Viet Nam target ASIAD golds

HA NOI – Vietnamese track and field athletes can seriously consider winning gold medals at the next Asian Games, according to coach Nguyen Dinh Minh.

"After ASIAD silvers and bronzes, I think that Viet Nam's track and field athletes can now target golds. Before (the ASIAD) it was a crazy thought but now we are close and in other words we could have 'touched' it," said Minh, who coached Southeast Asian sprint queen Vu Thi Huong to 100m bronze and 200m silver medals last month.

Viet Nam also pocketed silvers in the women's 800m and 1,500m and a bronze in the men's decathlon.

These achievements were not thought of when the team departed for the Guangzhou games. All the athletes wanted was to try their best to win Viet Nam's first ever track and field medal at the games.

"My athletes went to ASIAD having not had the best preparations so both coaches and athletes were under pressure, hoping to win an elusive medal. The runners had to try harder every round for their best result," Minh said.

"Viet Nam is starting to become competitive at the Asian level where we have had some success, but it is still along way from being able to make an impact at world competitions. If we receive good support and make plans, some of our athletes will have a chance to not only win an ASIAD gold but also compete on the world stage," he confirmed. – VNS