Hai Duong marksman and Vietnam's only gold at SEA Games 15

Marksman Nguyen Duc Uynh

At the 15th SEA Games, held from August 20 to 31, 1989 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marksman Nguyen Duc Uynh from Hai Duong performed impressively and together with his teammates won a gold medal in the men's team rapid fire pistol.

This was also the only gold medal of the Vietnamese sport delegation at the Games.

He was the first Hai Duong athlete to have snatched a gold medal at a SEA Games since Vietnam's sports reintegrated.

Uynh was born in 1955 as a native of Gia Loc district and conquered many domestic and international prizes at that time.

He is the eldest brother in a large and poor family. In 1972, he was summoned to the Hai Duong Firing Range (the predecessor of the present-day Hai Duong Shooting Club) for practice.

One year later, he was convened to the national team after having won the provincial shooting championship.

Uynh’s forte was rapid fire pistol, but at the 1st National Games, he triumphed the free pistol.

Hai Duong Shooting Club, where marksman Nguyen Duc Uynh familiarized himself with shooting

Training at Central level, Uynh improved very quickly and immediately became an excellent athlete.

After that, Uynh was continuously trained in China, the Soviet Union, and Germany.

Uynh’s impressive achievement was the gold medal in the men's team rapid fire pistol at the 15th SEA Games.

Returning from the 15th SEA Games, Uynh continued to affirm his irreplaceable role in the national team.

Previously, Uynh was also the first Hai Duong athlete to win a ticket to the Olympics - the world's largest sports arena, which was the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the Soviet Union.

Thanks to his achievements in competition and training, Uynh was transferred to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

Before retiring in 2015, he was Head of the Archery and Shooting Department and General Secretary of the Vietnam Shooting Federation. While working there, Uynh deserved credit for making Hai Duong shooting team one of national strong ones.

At present, Uynh and his family are living in Australia.

CAM LINH