At the ninth National Sports Festival in 2022, the military athletics team topped the medal tally with 10 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. The achievement has motivated the coaching staff and athletes to work hard to maintain their performance and strive for more medals at this year’s festival.
Non-commissioned Colonel Tran Xuan Thanh, head coach of the military athletics team, said that the National Sports Festival is a highly competitive event with a different nature from national championships. Therefore, each athlete is carefully honing their skills and determined to surpass their own limits to achieve the set targets.
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Athlete Duong Thi Thao of the military athletics team wins the women’s high jump at the 2025 National Athletics Championships. |
After four years, the team has seen changes in its roster, but still boasts several leading athletes, including Hoang Du Y, Bui Thi Nguyen, Nguyen Tien Trong, Ho Trong Manh Hung, Duong Thi Thao, Quach Thi Hong Thuy, Nguyen Thi Hong Van, Bui Van Su, Bui Thi Xuan, Bui Thi Trang, and Tran Van Dien.
Among them, Duong Thi Thao in the women’s high jump, Ho Trong Manh Hung in the men’s triple jump, and Hoang Du Y in the women’s 100m recently competed at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) in Japan. Athlete Ho Trong Manh Hung said thorough professional preparation, international competition experience and technical adjustments made by the coaching staff had provided him with valuable experience and lessons as he was striving for the best possible result at this year’s festival.
To improve physical fitness, hone techniques and maintain peak form, many key members of the team are currently training in China. According to head coach Tran Xuan Thanh, the top priority for the coaching staff is to help key athletes build up their physical condition and reach peak form at the right time.
Nguyen Manh Hung, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Athletics Federation, said that the gold-medal contenders at the 10th National Sports Festival are mainly established athletes training and competing for the national team. However, in athletics unexpected results were seen at previous festivals.
Athletics at the 10th National Sports Festival features 52 events. The men’s and women’s marathon events were already held in March in Khanh Hoa province. Forty-eight track-and-field events will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from November 22 to December 1, while two cross-country mountain-running events at Ba Ra Mountain will be held in Dong Nai city from November 20 to 23.
Translated by Minh Anh