Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh provided with favorable training condition: Military officer

PANO – Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh has performed excellently and snatched two medals, including one gold, at the Rio Olympic Games 2016, bringing joy to all Vietnamese in general and cadres, athletes and workers of the Military Sports and Physical Training Center.

Below is an interview that Director of the Military Sports and Physical Training Center, Colonel Pham Do Tuan, granted to the People’s Army Newspaper.

Reporter: Can you please run a brief introduction over the training facilities of the center?

Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh

Director: I would like to elaborate more on shooting facilities. This is one of the center’s spearhead sports, which has received due attention and care of leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff.

In 2013, Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, after taking note the center’s recommendations, ordered relevant agencies to install an electronic target system for the shooting contingent. Therefore, it can be said that at present the center has the best facilities and equipment for shooting training nationwide.

Reporter: Where do we import ammo and shooting guns from?

Director Pham Do Tuan: In training at the center, the number of ammo rounds that military firers (including Colonel Hoang Xuan Vinh) use per day depends on training periods in the lesson plans; however, during intensive periods, each shooter may fire up to 150 rounds per day. As for guns, the center equips firers with most modern guns imported from Switzerland and Germany. The pistol that Hoang Xuan Vinh used in Rio Olympic Games 2016 was a high-quality one presented by a Swiss company as a gift. The center uses ammo imported from Germany for training.

Reporter: What investment does the center need in order to have more than just one marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh for the country?

Director Pham Do Tuan: At present, the shooting contingent of the center is gathered and undergoing training in Gia Lam (Hanoi). In the coming time, the General Staff will consider building a modern shooting range and accommodation complex (the project has already been on paper) at the Military Sports and Physical Training Center (Truong Chinh street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi).

All the teams of the center, not just the shooting contingent, have three levels of training. The first level is for those that will compete at international, national and military arenas. The second one trains those that will replace the first one (as reserve for the first one) in the future. The third one is for amateur gifted trainees. Over the past years, the shooting contingent of the center has always been in the leading position in competitions nationwide and provided a lot of quality firers for the national shooting team. Colonel Hoang Xuan Vinh is currently the coach and a firer of the shooting contingent of the center. As a coach, he is a highly responsible cadre, helping train a good number of young firers who serve as reverses for present firers.

Reporter: Prior to departure to the Rio Olympic 2016, what did you advise Hoang Xuan Vinh?

Director Pham Do Tuan: Prior to his departure, Vinh and I had a small talk. I told him that this may be the last Olympics for him. He shouldn’t be pressured by achievements, but must be responsible for each and every shot he makes. Perhaps, miracles might come, doing so. Vinh told me that I could rely on him for that.

It should be said that Vinh’s medals at an Olympic season have provided a huge source of motivation and he himself serves as an example for all coaches and athletes of the center to follow. All of us closely watched shooting events live on TV whenever he competes.

We are so much proud of Vinh and other athletes of the center who have brought glory to the nation, army and center.

Reporter: Thank you very much! We wish the center more success in the future!