As she is being sponsored to the tune of 170,000-180,000 USD by the State, the swimmer is expected to bring home no less than eight gold medals. According to the National Sports Administration, Vien is currently in the US for intensive training ahead of the Games.

Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is expected to shine at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The swimmer is receiving more sponsorship money than all the country’s track-and-field athletes combined.

Vien, from the southern city of Can Tho, will return Vietnam in July to prepare for the World Swimming Championship in the Republic of Korea and then come back again to the US for more training.

As one of Vietnam’s most talented athletes, Vien has trained in the US since 2012, backed by tens of VND each year from the National Sports Administration and her team, the Military team.

Across four SEA Games, the 22-year-old has bagged 19 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals and broken 11 regional records.

In the first Games in 2011, at the age of 15, Vien took silvers in the women’s 100m backstroke and 400m medley.

Two years later, she took home three golds and two silvers. At the Games 2015 and 2017, Vien seized eight gold medals each.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has invested 30 billion VND (1.3 million USD) to help prepare 27 head coaches and 66 athletes including Vien and 2018 ASIAD long jump Bui Thi Thu Thao for key international contests such as the SEA Games in the Philippines and qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, SEA Games 2021 and ASIAD 2022.

At the Games this year, Vietnam aims to rank in top three. In the Games two years ago, Vietnam finished third with 58 gold medals.

Almost 1.3 million USD allocated for head coaches, athletes

A total of 30 billion VND (almost 1.3 million USD) will be invested to help prepare 27 head coaches and 66 athletes for key international contests in the next few years, according to deputy head of the Vietnam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan.

 

31st SEA Games in Vietnam to draw about 7,000 athletes

The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are scheduled to begin in Vietnam in November 2021, attracting about 7,000 athletes to compete in 36 sports.

 

Outstanding efforts by athletes with disabilities lauded

Despite their physical challenges, Vietnamese athletes with disabilities have striven with outstanding efforts and gained remarkable results at regional and international arenas over the years, bringing glory to the nation.

 

Victory Cup gala honours best athletes, coaches in 2018

Long jumper Bui Thi Thu Thao scored a double triumph at the Victory Cup gala for the best players and coaches of 2018 in Hanoi on February 1, winning the awards for Female Athlete of the Year and Most Favourite Athlete of the Year.

 

ASIAD gold medalist named most outstanding athlete in 2018

Track and field athlete Bui Thi Thu Thao, who won a gold medal for Vietnam at the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD 2018) in Indonesia in August, has overcome other rivals to become the most outstanding athlete of Vietnam in 2018.

 

Source: VNS/VNA