Long An Sports overcomes difficulties to achieve success

Impressive achievements of Long An high-performance sports

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in recent years, Long An has continuously developed both mass sports and high-performance sports. In particular, the province ranks first in the country in swimming, volleyball, and athletics. Talented athletes are continuously discovered, trained, nurtured and compete successfully, contributing to affirming the position of Long An high-performance sports.

According to the Director of Long An Sports Training and Competition Center - Nguyen Bao Hoan, in 2023, there was 7 athletes in the national teams, including 1 swimmer, 3 athletics athletes and 3 female volleyball athletes. Along with that, in the national youth teams, Long An sports also contributed 1 coach and 2 athletes.

In 2023, Long An's athletes competing at the Southeast Asian Games - SEA Games 32 in Cambodia won 3 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals. At the 2023 ASIAD in Hangzhou, China, Long An sports also contributed 5 athletes including: Vo Thi My Tien in swimming, Tran Thi Nhi Yen in athletics and 3 female volleyball players: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Vo Thi Kim Thoa and Nguyen Khanh Dang.

In particular, at national tournaments, 2023 is also considered a very successful year for Long An high-performance sports when the province's athletes won 37 Gold Medals, 17 Silver Medals and 23 Bronze Medals at national championships and national youth tournaments, exceeding the set target.

Since the beginning of 2024, Long An athletes have won 28 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals, 41 Bronze Medals at national tournaments, successfully completing the set tasks.

Swimmer Vo Thi My Tien wins the ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics in France

Not only conquering national tournaments, Long An athletes also make great contributions to national teams participating in international tournaments.

In particular, swimmer Vo Thi My Tien participated in the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championship in the Philippines from February 24 to March 1, 2024, winning 1 Gold Medal, 4 Silver Medals and 4 Bronze Medals; Athlete Tran Thi Nhi Yen participated in the Asian U20 Athletics Championship in Dubai - UAE from April 24 to 27, 2024 and won 2 silver medals.

In addition, 4 female volleyball athletes including libero Khanh Dang, setter Kim Thoa, hitter Thanh Thuy and opposite hitter Tra My participated with the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team to compete in the SEA V.League 2024, winning second place in the first round held in Vinh Phuc province; winning second place in the second round held in Thailand; winning the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 Volleyball Championship in the Philippines; winning 5th place in the Future Star tournament in Shanghai, China and second place in the VTV FERROLI Cup International Women's Volleyball Championship in 2024.

"In particular, the most outstanding milestone of Long An high-performance sports in 2024 is that athletes Vo Thi My Tien and Tran Thi Nhi Yen won the ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. This is also the first time Long An sports has had athletes honored to participate in the biggest sports festival on the planet. This also affirms the right direction in the selection and training of athletes of Long An high-performance sports." - Mr. Nguyen Bao Hoan said.

Golden faces of Long An sports

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Nguyen Hoang Cong, although the investment resources for sports have not met expectations, with the determination and responsibility of the whole sector and the efforts to overcome difficulties, the spirit of dedication of athletes, Long An high-performance sports still maintains the factors and achievements in traditional strengths such as volleyball, swimming, athletics, etc with athletes such as Thanh Thuy, Khanh Dang, Kim Thoa (volleyball), My Tien (swimming), Hoai Van (javelin throw), etc.

Over the years, Long An sports also introduced new faces with great potential for development such as young talent Tran Thi Nhi Yen in athletics, Tra My in women's volleyball.

When it comes to Long An sports, perhaps in recent years, Vo Thi My Tien is considered the most versatile athlete with outstanding achievements. She is also the one who has brought home the most medals for Long An high-performance sports.

Notably, in 2023, at the tournaments she participated in, My Tien won 72 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals in individual and relay events. Recently, at the 2024 National Swimming Championship held in October 2024, with excellent performance, she won 9 individual gold medals, 1 individual bronze medal, and 2 relay bronze medals. Of which, 9 gold medals were in the 200m medley, 100m breaststroke, 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 1,500m freestyle, 400m medley, 800m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, and 200m butterfly. This result helped Long An delegation win second place overall.

Swimmer My Tien said: "Every time I enter a tournament, I set a goal to compete well, surpass myself, achieve the best results to bring glory to the province, and respond to the expectations of teachers and sports fans." With outstanding achievements in the past 2 years, My Tien is currently the number 1 female swimmer in Vietnam.

Along with My Tien, in the past 2 years, runner Tran Thi Nhi Yen has risen from a young talent to the number 1 position in the national 100m and 200m short distance races. In addition to young athletes who have made remarkable progress, Long An sports also has familiar faces like Hoai Van.

Once an athlete known as the "king of national records" with 6 consecutive national championships and a gold medal at the 30th SEA Games, it can be said that every time Hoai Van competes, the gold medal is almost certainly in his hands. However, after winning the SEA Games gold medal, Hoai Van suffered a very serious injury, at times thinking he would have to retire from his top-level career.

Athlete Hoai Van made an impressive comeback when he won the javelin throw gold medal at the 2024 National Athletics Championship

“The injury greatly affected my performance when I had to focus on treatment. The expectations of my teachers, leaders and family who were always by my side gave me the motivation to try and make efforts every day” - Hoai Van confided.

It was his determination and overcoming himself that helped Hoai Van make a strong comeback after the injury. The “sweet fruit” came to him at the National Athletics Championship held in November 2024 when he won the javelin throw gold medal.

“I would like to send this achievement to my family, teachers, leaders of Long An province and all the fans who have been by my side to encourage me during difficult times. This is also the motivation for me to be determined to win the SEA Games gold medal held in Thailand next year" - Hoai Van said./.

By Kien Dinh - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/the-thao-long-an-vuot-kho-gat-hai-thanh-cong-a186252.html