The event saw the presence of Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, as well as all the 43 members of the delegation, comprised of 18 athletes, 18 trainers and experts, two doctors, four officials, and one reporter.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh presents the 2012 Olympic bronze medal to weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh encouraged the Vietnamese Olympians to compete with the strongest determination for national pride, whilst upholding honesty and noble sportsmanship.

“Each member of the contingent must be an ambassador of goodwill and sincerity in order to promote the image of a peaceful and friendly Vietnam with wonderful cultural traditions to international friends through the Olympic arena,” he said.

Politburo member Minh voiced his belief that with members’ serious and careful preparations, strong determination and great efforts, the Vietnamese contingent will achieve the best results at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Games. He wished them all the best and great success.

At the send-off ceremony, the Vietnam Olympic Committee presented the London 2012 Olympic bronze medal to Vietnamese weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan. Earlier, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that Azerbaijan’s Valentin Hristov had been stripped of his bronze medal for doping. Therefore, Quoc Toan, ranked fourth at the Games, was promoted to receive the honour.

As planned, the Vietnamese Olympic contingent, headed by Deputy Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training Tran Duc Phan, will depart for Tokyo on July 18, targeting to win medals at the Games.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh hands over the national flag to the head of the Vietnamese Olympic contingent Tran Duc Phan.

The 18 Vietnamese Olympians include weightlifters Thach Kim Tuan and Hoang Thi Duyen, boxers Nguyen Thi Tam and Nguyen Van Duong, gymnasts Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh, swimmers Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, badminton players Nguyen Tien Minh and Nguyen Thuy Linh, archers Do Thi Anh Nguyet and Nguyen Hoang Phi Vu, marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh, sprinter Quach Thi Lan, taekwondo fighter Truong Thi Kim Tuyen, judo fighter Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, and rowing duo Luong Thi Thao and Dinh Thi Hao.

Five years ago, Vietnam ranked 45th in the medal table at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil with one gold and one silver, both won by shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh.

Swimmer Anh Vien seals Olympic place for third time

Vietnam’s top female swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has been included in the list of athletes competing in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics after receiving an invitation from the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

Vietnamese sprinter Quach Thi Lan to compete in 2020 Tokyo Olympics

The official website of the World Athletics (WA) has updated its list of competitors for the women’s 400m hurdles category at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with sprinter Quach Thi Lan named as the representative for Vietnamese track and field.

Veteran shooter champ grabs Olympic invitation slot

Marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh will be given an invitation slot to the Olympics this year.

Weightlifting earns Vietnam three more berths in Tokyo Olympics

Weightlifters Thach Kim Tuan, Vuong Thi Huyen and Hoang Thi Duyen have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, raising the total number of Vietnam’s official berths in the upcoming Games to 14.

Female boxer grabs 11th Olympic slot for Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Tam has become the 11th Vietnamese athlete to qualify for Olympics Tokyo after accumulating enough competition points.

Source: NDO