The cupboard’s six sections filled with medals

Dao’s family has just started construction of a new house. The temporary house only has enough space for two beds, a table and chairs and of course, the medal cupboard and racks for her certificates of merit.

Loc Van Tuan (left) – father of archer Loc Thi Dao introduces three gold medals of his daughters at SEA Games 30.

Loc Van Tuan (born in 1966) could not hide his pride on his talented daughter. He shared that “I have four children, with Dao the youngest. The eldest son involves in afforestation at home with his parents and the two sisters are teachers. Nobody in the family knows about sports, especially archery.

“While at Grade 8 in the village school, Dao was called to the basketball team of Bac Giang province. After going to Hanoi for training, she switched to archery. At first, I and my wife did not like it, but we saw her passion and will so we encouraged her.

“In some domestic tournaments with eight gold medals, Dao brought home all. She has competed at the SEA Games for five seasons. In the first season of 2011, she earmed only one silver medal. The number of medals she got from the Games has gradually increased, with three golds this year. I put her medals from the SEA Games and other Southeast Asian championships in a separate section, which is now quite full. There seem to be nearly 20 medals, including many golds,” he said.

"Dao had shoulder pain but did not tell me"

While her husband happily told about his daughter's achievements, Tran Thi Luong (born in 1967) - Dao's mother sat in teary eyes missing her daughter. She said: "I compassionate her very much! She has had shoulder pain for years but did not tell me. ”

Loc Thi Dao sets up a hattrick with three gold medals at SEA Games 30.

Dao has been away from home for 12 years. I always cried when she went after returning home. The mother recalled when Dao first lived at the National Sports Training Center (Hanoi), she and her husband came to visit her in an afternoon and saw her rolling on the training ground, sweating profusely. She returned home a few times per year but every time Dao brought a bow to practice.

“On every 1st day of the Lunar New Year, she practices archery. She said that if she does not practice, her level will go down immediately," Luong shared.

Loc Thi Dao's parents (outermost, left and right) are proud to tell about their daughter’s achievements.

I tried to lift the bow many times. The bow weighed about 36 kg so I could not lift it. But Dao can lift it gently and also pull it to both sides horizontally. Three years ago, Dao had shoulder pain and had to go to China for treatment. She did not tell me about her pain because she did not want me to be worried. As the "occupational disease", it cannot be cured.

Behind the medals are the drops of sweat and tear of the athletes and the expectations of many people but when I met the relatives of "archer" Loc Thi Dao, I found there were also the sacrifice and tears of both her parents.

Bac Giang province honors athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh

(BGO) – The Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee in Bac Giang province Le Anh Duong has recently held a meeting in Bac Giang city to honor the track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh.

Leader of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism congratulates athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh

(BGO) – In the evening of December 11, Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST) Tran Minh Ha and leader of the Center for Sports Training and Competition in the northern province of Bac Giang arrived at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) to welcome and congratulate track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh who returned from the Philippines after participating in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). 

Bac Giang’s athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh breaks SEA Games record at 3000 meter steeplechase event

(BGO) – At 16h30 (Vietnam time) on December 10, track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh (Bac Giang province) excellently won the gold medal at 3000 meter steeplechase event with an achievement of 10 minutes two milliseconds at the ongoing 30th SEA Games.  

Bac Giang’s athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh wins gold at 1500 meter run at 30th Sea Games

(BGO) – Athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh (Bac Giang province) excellently won a gold medal at 1500 meter run event in the 30th Sea Games at 16:20 on December 8 (Vietnam time). 

Bac Giang athletes at SEA Games 30 arena: gold medals expected for chess and athletics

(BGO) - In the list of the Vietnamese athletes participating in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30) held in the Philippines, Bac Giang has four, competing in three sports: Chess, athletics and badminton.  This time, the athletes are ready to enter the arena with the goal of winning the highest achievements. 

Hong Chau- Huu Trinh