Fencing

HÀ NỘI — Fencer Đỗ Thị Anh has become Việt Nam’s 20th athlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics this summer.

Anh is the fourth fencer to win a slot on the team, joining Nguyễn Thành An (men’s sabre), Nguyễn Thị Như Hoa (women’s epee) and Nguyễn Thị Lệ Dung (women’s sabre), and will compete in the women’s foil event.

News of her qualification has been known for some days but was officially released yesterday after receiving confirmation from the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Anh ranked fourth in the recent Olympic qualifying round, Asia/Oceania zonal event in Wuxi, China.

In this category, Yuan Ping of New Zealand won a qualifying place by finishing second in the foil discipline. However the former Commonwealth champion, was not qualified for the Games because she previously competed under China jersey.

The FIE notified Việt Nam that Anh was pushed up to the third position to take Ping’s place.

Coach Phạm Anh Tuấn of the Hà Nội International Fencing Club, which manages and trains Anh, said the athlete had given an outstanding performance and her qualification made it the best-ever season for national fencing.

Together with Việt Nam’s weightlifting team, fencing has the most athletes heading for Rio in August. All fencers are members of the Hanoian Club.

Việt Nam’s 20 Olympians represent fencing, weightlifting, badminton, wrestling, shooting, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, rowing and judo.

Sports officials are waiting for more qualifiers in athletics and swimming.

Việt Nam have not won any gold medals in past Olympic Games but have brought home two silvers in taekwondo from Sydney 2000 and one in weightlifting from Beijing 2008. — VNS