The predominantly young swimming squad has set a target to win at least10 gold medals at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, a first in thehistory of Vietnam's sport.
"We have drawn a detailedpreparation plan for the Games; our athletes have been attending a rangeof tournaments as a part of the plan. This helped them improve theirresults. Overall, they have maintained good performance and are readyfor the Games," said Dinh Viet Hung, head of the Swimming Department ofthe National Sports Administration.
Many feel the target of 10 gold is believable as Vietnam is home to some best swimmers, including Olympian Nguyen Thi Anh Vien.
Inthe previous Games, Vietnam made history by winning five gold, fivesilvers, and two bronzes, a result that none of the national sportofficials had expected.
Vien, who was a new name at the Games twoyears ago, contributed three titles in women's 200m backstroke, 200m,and 400m medley events.
This year, the Can Tho province-bornathlete is expected to win in six categories, after her remarkable showin international competitions.
Vien will have to defend her crowns as well as conquer the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle titles.
The18-year-old has been training hard in the US under famous coach CrayAnthony Teeters. Her preparations are not only for the SEA Games butalso for further tournaments, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in2016 and the Asian Games two years later.
According to Vietnameseswimming officials and coach Dang Anh Tuan, her performance has beenpretty good and it showed in her training and competitions in the US;they have been better than any of her rivals in ASEAN states.
They believe that the insanely talented athlete can also vie for gold in 200m butterfly as her result is close to the top three.
At the recent Arena Pro Swim Series in the US, Vien grabbed a bronze medal in 400m medley, with a time of 4:42.60.
She also took part in different categories and successfully entered the final eight rounds.
"Vienmight not have competed against world-level swimmers in the Americantournament, but she definitely is a star in Southeast Asia," Nguyen HongMinh, former head of the Elite Sports of the National SportsAdministration, noted, adding that Vien can easily manage to perform insix to seven events at the SEA Games.
Hoang Quy Phuoc is another golden hope of Vietnam.
Phuoc,23, has prepared on his own by undergoing a training course in Japan,where he reached Standard B to compete at 100m (50.80sec) and 200mfreestyle (1:50.94) in the coming Olympics in Brazil.
Phuoc willdefend his title in 200m freestyle and swim to reclaim his glory in 100mfreestyle that he had lost in last Games in Myanmar.
The Da Nang-born swimmer is also expected to change the colour of his medal from silver to gold in 400m freestyle.
Two years ago, Tran Duy Khoi bagged only one silver medal (200m medley) and one bronze medal (400m medley).
Followinghis outstanding performance at the national championships this year,with 11 gold and five records, 18-year-old Khoi is hoping to make adifference.
Apart from Vien, Phuoc and Khoi, who compete inshort-distance events, Vietnam have Lam Quang Nhat who made a big bangin Myanmar as he secured a gold medal in men's 1,500m freestyle in hisSEA Games debut.
Nhat successfully finished his race with a timeof 15:39.44, leaving behind his nearest rival Kevin Yeap of Malaysia fora five-second gap. His victory was a strong boost for Vietnam.
Twoyears later, the HCM City-born athlete, who just returned home fromChina, improved his best result to 15:33.21, which is expected to keephim on the top of the podium.
"I have no advantages of height or afull span of arms needed for swimmers of short-distance events. So, Ifocus on this category and I am hoping to shine in Singapore SEA Games,"said 18-year-old Nhat.
The team's biggest challenge will be the odd organising activities of the hosts.
Athletesare not allowed to practise at the main venue (OCBC Aquatics Centre)two days before their competitions, which is not in line with the worldswimming federation's rules.
Vietnamese coaches have sought permission for their athletes to train in the evenings, but they have yet to receive a reply.
Atight competition schedule, asking swimmers to take part in consecutiveevents, will make it difficult for them to prepare for their nextevents, Hung observed, adding that Vietnam strongly objected to theorganisers' rules and were waiting for a response from them.
The eight-member swimming squad leaves for Singapore on June 2.
Their competition will take place on June 6-11 at the OCBC Aquatics Centre.-VNA
"We have drawn a detailedpreparation plan for the Games; our athletes have been attending a rangeof tournaments as a part of the plan. This helped them improve theirresults. Overall, they have maintained good performance and are readyfor the Games," said Dinh Viet Hung, head of the Swimming Department ofthe National Sports Administration.
Many feel the target of 10 gold is believable as Vietnam is home to some best swimmers, including Olympian Nguyen Thi Anh Vien.
Inthe previous Games, Vietnam made history by winning five gold, fivesilvers, and two bronzes, a result that none of the national sportofficials had expected.
Vien, who was a new name at the Games twoyears ago, contributed three titles in women's 200m backstroke, 200m,and 400m medley events.
This year, the Can Tho province-bornathlete is expected to win in six categories, after her remarkable showin international competitions.
Vien will have to defend her crowns as well as conquer the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle titles.
The18-year-old has been training hard in the US under famous coach CrayAnthony Teeters. Her preparations are not only for the SEA Games butalso for further tournaments, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in2016 and the Asian Games two years later.
According to Vietnameseswimming officials and coach Dang Anh Tuan, her performance has beenpretty good and it showed in her training and competitions in the US;they have been better than any of her rivals in ASEAN states.
They believe that the insanely talented athlete can also vie for gold in 200m butterfly as her result is close to the top three.
At the recent Arena Pro Swim Series in the US, Vien grabbed a bronze medal in 400m medley, with a time of 4:42.60.
She also took part in different categories and successfully entered the final eight rounds.
"Vienmight not have competed against world-level swimmers in the Americantournament, but she definitely is a star in Southeast Asia," Nguyen HongMinh, former head of the Elite Sports of the National SportsAdministration, noted, adding that Vien can easily manage to perform insix to seven events at the SEA Games.
Hoang Quy Phuoc is another golden hope of Vietnam.
Phuoc,23, has prepared on his own by undergoing a training course in Japan,where he reached Standard B to compete at 100m (50.80sec) and 200mfreestyle (1:50.94) in the coming Olympics in Brazil.
Phuoc willdefend his title in 200m freestyle and swim to reclaim his glory in 100mfreestyle that he had lost in last Games in Myanmar.
The Da Nang-born swimmer is also expected to change the colour of his medal from silver to gold in 400m freestyle.
Two years ago, Tran Duy Khoi bagged only one silver medal (200m medley) and one bronze medal (400m medley).
Followinghis outstanding performance at the national championships this year,with 11 gold and five records, 18-year-old Khoi is hoping to make adifference.
Apart from Vien, Phuoc and Khoi, who compete inshort-distance events, Vietnam have Lam Quang Nhat who made a big bangin Myanmar as he secured a gold medal in men's 1,500m freestyle in hisSEA Games debut.
Nhat successfully finished his race with a timeof 15:39.44, leaving behind his nearest rival Kevin Yeap of Malaysia fora five-second gap. His victory was a strong boost for Vietnam.
Twoyears later, the HCM City-born athlete, who just returned home fromChina, improved his best result to 15:33.21, which is expected to keephim on the top of the podium.
"I have no advantages of height or afull span of arms needed for swimmers of short-distance events. So, Ifocus on this category and I am hoping to shine in Singapore SEA Games,"said 18-year-old Nhat.
The team's biggest challenge will be the odd organising activities of the hosts.
Athletesare not allowed to practise at the main venue (OCBC Aquatics Centre)two days before their competitions, which is not in line with the worldswimming federation's rules.
Vietnamese coaches have sought permission for their athletes to train in the evenings, but they have yet to receive a reply.
Atight competition schedule, asking swimmers to take part in consecutiveevents, will make it difficult for them to prepare for their nextevents, Hung observed, adding that Vietnam strongly objected to theorganisers' rules and were waiting for a response from them.
The eight-member swimming squad leaves for Singapore on June 2.
Their competition will take place on June 6-11 at the OCBC Aquatics Centre.-VNA
