Viet Nam’s karate team hopes to achieve its target of four to five gold medals at the 24th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 24) scheduled to take place in Thailand in December.

Karate Division head at the Committee for Physical Training and Sports Vu Son Ha said the set target was based on outstanding achievements its athletes have obtained at international tournaments since the beginning of this year.

Ha said the team took the lead at the Thailand Open tournament early this year with six gold, two silver and two bronze medals and they also brought home a gold and a silver from the 15th Kobe Osaka competition in Greece in July.

Last August, the athletes added three silver and five bronze medals to their collection at the Asian Karate Championships, considered the most important event for the team prior to SEA Games 24.

The squad is expected to compete in the Republic of Korea Open tourney this month before heading to Thailand for further training until the games.

Viet Nam has set its sights on 70 gold medals and a place in the top three nations at SEA Games 24. The country’s 600-strong delegation will compete in 31 events and a demonstration sport (go chess).

Vietnamese athletes from most sports have participated in training programmes or competitions abroad to prepare for the largest sporting festival in Southeast Asia.

Source: VNA