Vietnamese markswomen eye at least top eight positions in Paris Olympics

Shooting

Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền will compete in the women’s 10m air rifle at the 2024 Olympics. Photo baovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI — Markswomen Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền and Trịnh Thu Vinh set a target of a berth in their categories’ final rounds at the Olympics, with the Việt Nam Shooting Federation (VSF) promising a big bonus if they can bring home an Olympic gold medal.

Twenty year 20-year-old Tuyền was the first Vietnamese rifle shooter to secure an Olympic place. She will compete in the women’s 10m air rifle event.

Vinh, 24, will take part in the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m pistol classes.

The duo have just completed their intensive training camp in South Korea and will fly to a world shooting hub Hungary on July 7 for more training.

From Hungary they will travel to France on July 10 where they will have a week to prepare for competitions.

“I have had stable results during practice in South Korea,” said Tuyền.” Earning an opportunity to compete in the Olympics is my honour. I take responsibility to shoot the best score for Việt Nam.”

Meanwhile Vinh said she was in a comfortable mode and was aiming to have the same high results in Paris as she did at home.

South Korean head coach HLV Park Chung-gun said the coaching board did not put high pressure on their shooters, but they were asked to earn berths in the finals’ top eight.

According to Vũ Thị Anh Đào, official of the Shooting Department of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam, the competitors did good jobs in South Korea. Their statistics were recorded and analysed carefully and showed both in good condition, with sharp techniques and skills, which will be further honed during their time in Hungary.

Trịnh Thu Vinh (in white) is expected to advance to finals of two shooting categories in the Paris Olympics. Photo of ISSF

On July 2 in Hà Nội, the VSF confirmed its target of having medals at the Paris Games. At the same time the agency announced big bonus of VNĐ500 million (US$ 19,800) for shooters who win Olympic golds. The silver and bronze medallists would receive VNĐ300 million and VNĐ200 million, respectively.

In addition, TCL Vietnam Smart Electronics Company, a sponsor of the VFS, promised to present gifts of VNĐ700 million to gold medal winners, gifts of VNĐ110 million and VNĐ50 million, for those who earned silver and bronze, respectively.

VFS President Đỗ Văn Bình said shooting was one of several sports that had two representatives in the upcoming Olympics. The athletes’ had already shown great determination and high spirits during training and competitions and were striving hard to bring back medals.

“We hope that coaches and athletes will inherit and promote the achievements of previous generations to achieve our goal of having medals at the 2024 Olympics,” said Bình.

“All participants must prepare well their strength, psychology and training plan and tactics to be ready for the world’s highest level arena.”

The 2024 Olympics will feature 15 shooting events, from rifles and pistols to shotguns. The competitions will be held from July 27 through August 5 at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre which is just over two hours from Paris. VNS