Paralympics

Despite injury, powerlifter Lê Văn Công still hopes to defend his title at the Tokyo Paralympics. Photo paralympic.org.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will send an 11-strong contingent to the Tokyo Paralympics this summer.

The athletes include three who will compete in track-and-field, four in swimming and three in powerlifting.

The Paralympians are currently in intensive training in HCM City and Đà Nẵng. They are expected to have both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine 10 days before leaving for Tokyo on August 18. 

They must have PCR tests with negative results within 72 hours upon their arrival.

According to the deputy head of Việt Nam Sports Administration (VSA) Nguyễn Hồng Minh, no specific targets have been set for the athletes.

"There have been no international training camps and competition for athletes in the last two years. Our athletes are aged (from 35 to 40) and one of them is still in injury treatment so their performance would not be as good as it was in 2016 in Brazil," said Minh, who is also the team's chef de mission.

"However, we still expect to see good results from them," he said.

Speaking with the media, Vũ Thế Phiệt, general secretary of the Việt Nam Paralympics Association, said weightlifter Lê Văn Công, who won Việt Nam's first Paralympic gold, is still recovering from injury. Therefore, medal hopes could be on lifters Nguyễn Bình An and Đặng Thị Linh Phượng, swimmer Võ Thanh Tùng and track-and-field athlete Cao Ngọc Hùng.

Five years ago, Tùng claimed a silver in the men's 50m freestyle. Phượng secured a bronze in the women's 50kg class and Hùng took a bronze in the men's javelin.

"We receive good care from the sports officials and support from enterprises. These would be strong pushes for us to earn high results in Tokyo," said Công. VNS