Martial artists hope to enter the Beijing 08’ dragon

HA NOI — With the Olympics looming ever closer, Viet Nam's best taekwondo martial artists have kicked their training into high gear.

The national team is even going so far as to hire expert coaches from South Korea, the birthplace of the sport, to give their athletes an extra edge.

2007 is shaping up to be a perfect year for the team to test their mettle with the World Championships for men and women on May 18-22 in Beijing, China, followed by the Asian Junior Championships this August in Jordan and the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December in Thailand.

The team will also take part in two qualifying rounds for the 2008 Olympics in September and late October.

To prepare for the competitions, the national team has been divided in two groups with one focusing on the SEA Games and other training specifically for the Olympics.

The Olympic team consists of the best martial artists in eight weight categories ranging from 49kg to 80kg.

Familiar faces to many who enjoy the sport include national champions Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Thi Huyen Dieu and young talents Hoang Ha Giang and Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu.

Hung, who also holds a world title, is back in action after missing the Asian Games in Doha due to a serious torn ligament. He is expected to do well in the over-80kg category at the Olympic trials.

Hung was sorely missed in Doha as Viet Nam's fighters were unable to bring home a gold medal, something the team wanted badly after failing to do so at the last Asian Games in Busan, South Korea in 2002.

At the Doha's Games Ha Giang and Hoai Thu won silver medals in the women's 55kg and 59kg categories, with Bui Thu Hien winning a bronze in the women's 67kg competition. Her teammate Do Thi Bich Hanh earned another bronze in the 51kg category. The last bronze went to Vu Anh Tuan in the men's 62kg competition.

For the 36 others on the national team, training will be equally challenging.

Rivals from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines proved to be strong competition in Doha, something that could affect Viet Nam's regional standing in the sport.

The athletes are practising at the National Sports and Physical Training Centre 1 and 2 in Ha Noi and HCM City. The best martial artists will be chosen to fight in the tournaments. — VNS
 

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01SPO120107