From the peak of the 31st SEA Games to a new challenge
At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the Vietnam Athletics Team won 12 Gold Medals (HCV), 20 Silver Medals (HCB) and 8 Bronze Medals (HCD) - an achievement that helped us finish second overall, behind Thailand (16 HCV, 8 HCB, 5 HCD) and ranked above Indonesia (7 HCV, 3 HCB, 9 HCD).
Although unable to defend the top spot like at the 31st SEA Games at home, Vietnamese athletics still showed impressive bravery. The most prominent is Nguyen Thi Oanh, who "gom" 4 gold medals in the 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m and 3,000m events - the same record as her senior Nguyen Thi Huyen.
In the men's event, Nguyen Xuan Cuong also contributed greatly with a 3,000m HCV overcoming obstacles. In particular, the women's 4x400m relay team achieved a score of 33305, approaching continental class - a testament to the clear progress of Vietnam's athletics.
Careful preparation for the 33rd SEA Games
Looking forward to the upcoming congress, the leaders of the Department of Physical Education and Sports and the Vietnam Athletics Federation have planned a systematic training plan for the core athletes, including 16/23 male and 20/23 female athletes.
The players are divided into specialized training groups, participating in the 2025 National Championship and international competition programs to maintain their form and accumulate experience.
According to information from the Federation, Southeast Asian countries - especially Thailand, host of the 33rd SEA Games - are preparing very carefully. With home advantage, the possibility of Thailand continuing to hold the top spot is quite large. However, the Vietnam National Team is still confident in aiming for the highest achievement in many events.
Opportunities from promising faces
General Secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation Nguyen Manh Hung said: "In addition to 12 HCVs that can be considered a solid target, we also have about 6-7 events that can compete for the championship, such as women's 400m, women's 400m hurdles, women's high jump and women's three-step jump".
In a recent national tournament, a Vietnamese female athlete reached 1m85 in the high jump event, approaching the gold medal at the SEA Games. This is a positive signal for the ambition to expand the group of strong events of Vietnam's athletics.
Know yourself, know others - towards effective competition
We know the people, we know us. The goal of Vietnam's athletics at the 33rd SEA Games is to maintain the runner-up position, while striving to break through in some key events" - Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed.
With systematic investment, a young force with great potential and a resilient competitive spirit, Vietnam Athletics continues to affirm its position as a leading flag in the country's sports, aiming to not only maintain the runner-up position but also approach the continental level.
