VN shooters target 7 SEA Games golds

VN shooters target 7 SEA Games golds

(13-02-2009)

HA NOI — The national shooting team has set their sights on snatching seven golds at the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos later this year.

Shooters in key rifle event will be trained by renowned South Korea coach, Kim Kyung-jae.

Viet Nam shooters have been trained by foreign experts from Russia, Germany and China in the past. But this is their first ever South Korean coach.

Experts predict that Kim will raise the bar of competitive shooting in Viet Nam.

Twenty eight-year-old Kim has been coaching in Seoul for three years on a US$4,000 per month salary. Kim will now earn $1,700 per month as head of the national team, but is expected to gain invaluable experience.

Nguyen Manh Tuong, who won gold medals in the men’s free pistol and air pistol events at the Thailand SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, is also a star member of the pistol team.

Budgeting

There will be no change to the national team’s budget from the State this year. But because the athletes’ diet regime has been greatly invested in, trainers have to be strict about the number of shooters on the team.

This year’s team will include 37 shooters and seven coaches. They will meet in the Ha Noi-based National Sports Training Centre No 1 on Sunday to prepare for the year ahead.

Shooters are divided into two teams, rifle and pistol.

The national team will shrink from 37 to 25 athletes throughout training and competitions.

Nguyen Duc Uynh, general secretary of Viet Nam Shooting Federation said the federation will create the best conditions to help the national shooting complete their task at the SEA Games, as well as build a line-up of young talented marksmen.

National shooters will also take part in the 33rd Southeast Asian Shooting Association Championship in Thailand where they will need 12 gold medals to defend their title. — VNS
from: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01SPO130209