On this occasion, Deputy Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and head of the Vietnam delegation, Lam Quang Thanh informed reporters of Vietnamese athletes’ preparations for this important international sporting event.
Q: How have Vietnamese athletes been preparing for the ABG 4?
A: The ABG 4, to be held under the slogan: ‘Celebrate Charming Sunshine’, will take place at Phuket’s famous beaches of Patong, Karon and Kata, as well as Bangneow Dam, Chaofa Mine and Saphan Hin Sports Centre.
Nearly 140 athletes are going to represent Vietnam in 18 of 26 events including marathon swimming (four athletes), athletics (12), kurash (5), petanque (14), sepak takraw (10), beach football (10), beach volleyball (8), woodball (10), beach wrestling (6), bodybuilding (6), muaythai (8), jujitsu (12), handball (20), paragliding (5), foot volley (2), water ski (1), beach modern triathlon (1) and extreme sports (4).
To get the best results at this year’s Games, the general department has identified the disciplines with the greatest medal-winning potential and selected athletes for training courses at four national sports training centres in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Can Tho. Some athletes, mainly in Vietnam’s strength events such as bodybuilding, muaythai, jujitsu, petanque and kurash, have been chosen for overseas training aiming to improve their possibilities of winning medals.
Generally, all necessary preparations have been completed to date. All members of the national contingent are looking forward to departing for the Games.
Q: There is a growth in both Vietnam’s ABG 4 lineup and their registered events compared to the previous Games. What do you think about the development of beach sports in Vietnam in recent years?
A: Beach sports have seen strong growth in Vietnam within recent years, spreading across many cities and provinces all over the country, particularly in the central region. Hence, athletes’ performances in beach sports have improved considerably and have even approached the continental level in some events.
Vietnam will participate in the ABG 4 with a larger number of athletes than ever before, aimed at improving sports achievements and developing beach events. This will also be an opportunity for the country to gain valuable insight into methods for hosting and organisation, which will prove useful when hosting the 5th Asian Beach Games two years from now.
Q: What are the Vietnam delegation’s goals for the ABG 4?
A: The eight-day event features 168 disciplines on 26 beach sports, with Vietnamese athletes competing in 18 sports, six of which have their participation costs sourced from non-State funds. The Vietnam sport contingent aims to win at least 2-3 gold medals in bodybuilding, muay, jujitsu, petanque and kurash, and will strive to claim medals in women’s handball, sepak takraw and beach wrestling.
Thank you for the interview!
