Success at SEA Games 32 is a boost for Thanh Hoa's high-performance sports to develop more strongly.

The achievement of 7 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 5 bronze medals has concluded a successful SEA Games 32 for Thanh Hoa sports , which recognized the efforts and competitive spirit of the athletes. The results and lessons learned are the "key" and also the impetus for Thanh Hoa high-performance sports in the new development stage.

Success at SEA Games 32 is a boost for Thanh Hoa's high-performance sports to develop more strongly. The golden faces of Thanh Hoa sports at SEA Games 32 (from left to right, from top to bottom): Cao Thi Duyen, Hoang Thi Tinh, Le Thi Hien and Dang Thi Linh.

The 32nd SEA Games is the second consecutive Southeast Asian Games in which Thanh Hoa's strong sports, diving and vovinam, are included in the official competition program. In particular, diving is the sport that receives the most expectations with the participation of talented swimmer Cao Thi Duyen, an excellent face who won 2 gold medals at the 31st SEA Games in 2022. The consecutive successes at the 31st SEA Games and the 9th National Sports Congress - 2022 are considered important preparations for Cao Thi Duyen and the Thanh Hoa diving team towards the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023. Both coaches Pham Tuan Anh and Cao Thi Duyen have soon "packed up" to Ho Chi Minh City to train and constantly improve their achievements and expertise.

Not disappointing the trust of the national diving team's coaching board, Cao Thi Duyen has made every effort and made history for Thanh Hoa sports at the 32nd SEA Games with 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals and broke 2 records of the Games. The female swimmer from Cam Quy commune (Cam Thuy) has become the most outstanding athlete of Thanh Hoa Sports at the 32nd SEA Games, and is also the Thanh Hoa athlete who has won the highest medal achievement ever at a Southeast Asian Games. The diving sport has affirmed its position and strength when contributing nearly half of the medal achievements of Thanh Hoa sports at the 32nd SEA Games.

In the context of many Olympic sports, the strong subjects and events of Thanh Hoa sports being cut by the host country, the role of veteran athletes who have affirmed their class and international achievements over the years in the strong subjects is very important. This has been confirmed by the successful defense of SEA Games gold medals by Le Thi Hien (55 kg women's category, vovinam), Dang Thi Linh (76 kg category, wrestling) and Hoang Thi Tinh (48 kg category, judo). In particular, Hoang Thi Tinh is also the "golden face" of Thanh Hoa sports, having won gold medals in 3 consecutive SEA Games. At the 30th SEA Games - 2019, Tinh won a gold medal in kurash. At the 31st and 32nd SEA Games, this female martial artist won gold medals. In addition, the gold medal won by athlete Truong Thi Thuong in the women's team kumite event affirmed the impressive return of Thanh Hoa karate. This is also the first gold medal of Thanh Hoa karate at the SEA Games arena.

Nguyen Thai Son had a successful SEA Games 32 in the U22 Vietnam team, winning the bronze medal.

There is still a bit of regret with the silver and bronze medals, but the athletes of Pencak Silat, Taekwondo and new sports such as Arnis, Kun Khmer have also shown their efforts and made every effort to compete. These are valuable medals for the province's sports at the 32nd SEA Games. The achievements that the athletes have won are very remarkable, providing the basis for the athletes, coaches and sport teams to have plans and strategies for the next tournaments. Also at this year's Southeast Asian Games, 4 coaches of Thanh Hoa including Nguyen Van Hung, Tran Van Sy, Pham Tuan Anh and Phan Huu Chau have made many contributions to the achievements of the sports, as well as the overall first place of the Vietnamese delegation.

Assessing the achievements of Thanh Hoa Sports at the 32nd SEA Games, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Duy Tu said: The two years 2022 and 2023 are considered a special time for Thanh Hoa Sports in particular and Vietnamese Sports in general when the 31st and 32nd SEA Games are held consecutively. This is unprecedented, so the intensity of work of the coaches and athletes of the sports is very high, the efforts must also be many times greater. The achievements and medals won by the athletes continue to affirm the strengths of Thanh Hoa Sports. The good news is that all sports have factors that have affirmed their class, experience and there are also young faces participating in this Southeast Asian Games.

The achievements of Thanh Hoa sports at the 32nd SEA Games have affirmed its position and contribution to the country's sports. The lessons learned after this year's Southeast Asian Games are very valuable. This has shown that Thanh Hoa province is investing in the right direction with strong and traditional sports. The province's attention and the efforts of the industry, the team of athletes and coaches have brought about the above results. The achievements of the sports at the 32nd SEA Games are the basis for our province to continue to have a key investment strategy for the Olympic sports group, sports with tradition and strengths. For the sports that have not achieved the expected results at the 32nd SEA Games and in the recent past, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center will have plans, orientations and specific solutions to create the most favorable conditions for the new development stage.

Pencak Silat and Arnis teams won 4 bronze medals at the 32nd SEA Games.

The remaining departments strive to improve the quality of athlete training in all three categories of talent, youth and national teams, strive to maintain and improve achievements in youth tournaments, national championships and other domestic tournaments. This is an important basis for the departments to strive to have many athletes participating in national youth teams, national teams of each sport, competing in international tournaments such as the annual Southeast Asian, Asian and world championships; especially investing in major events such as the SEA Games, ASIAD, and Olympics. To achieve the above goals, in the coming time, the province and the industry will create the best conditions, constantly improve and enhance facilities, equipment and tools for training, practice and competition; thereby allowing athletes and coaches to best develop their abilities, strive for high achievements, and bring glory to Thanh Hoa sports and the country's sports.

Article and photos: Manh Cuong

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