HÀ NỘI — Asian long jump champion Bùi Thị Thu Thảo has been named Việt Nam’s best athlete of 2018.

Thảo received 700 votes from national journalists to overcome other candidates in the National Best Athletes of 2018 awards.

Apart from winning the Asian Athletics Championship long jump, Thảo won gold at the Asian Games in August. It was a turning point for not only her career but also Việt Nam’s history as it was the first ever gold in athletics for the country at the event.

Coming second, footballer Nguyễn Quang Hải took 622 points. He was the Golden Ball 2018 winner after being named the best player of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup during Việt Nam’s run to the title.

Swimmer Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, who earned one Youth Olympic gold and two Asian Games silvers along with National Sports Games titles and records, finished third with 462 points.

Meanwhile, Thảo’s coach Nguyễn Mạnh Hiếu won Best Coach of the Year. He was followed by Lê Văn Quang (rowing); Nguyễn Văn Hùng (pencak silat); Nguyễn Hoàng Vũ (swimming) and Trương Minh Sang (gymnastics).

In the table for athletes with disabilities, swimmer Võ Thanh Tùng had no worthy rival. Tùng, who was second in two previous years, stood on top with 385 points. He competed at the Asian Para Games and won three golds and one silver together with three records.

In terms of coaches of athletes with disabilities, swimming coach Bùi Thanh Tâm was named the top coach, with Nguyễn Hồng Phúc (athletics) and Bùi Quang Vũ (chess) second and third.

The national vote for best athletes and coaches is held annually. It is hosted by Thể Thao Việt Nam (Việt Nam Sports) newspaper with support from the National Sports Administration. — VNS