Vietnam secures seventh Olympic slot in rowing

Vietnamese duo Luong Thi Thao and Dinh Thi Hao seen preparing their boat at the World Rowing Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic qualification regatta. Photo: World Rowing

Duo Luong Thi Thao and Dinh Thi Hao finished second in the women's lightweight double sculls with a time of 7 minuted and 17.34 seconds. They were behind Chiaki Tomita and Ayami Oishi of the hosts who finished in 7:15.84. The bronze went to Zeinab Norouzi Tazeh Kand and Kimia Zarei of Iran on 7:23.86.

The top three in double events will qualify for the Tokyo Games, where Thao and Hao will compete in their first Olympics. 

Their teammate Pham Thi Hue was fourth in the women's single sculls. Her result could have seen her qualify as the top five receiving slots to Tokyo in individual races, however, each country was only allowed to send its highest-placed qualifier to the Games.

On the men's side, Nguyen Van Hieu failed to make the top five in the single sculls and was sixth with a time of 7:34.11.

More than 75 athletes went to Japan for the tournament which started on May 5 on the Tokyo 2021 rowing course, the Sea Forest Waterway venue.

Six boat classes contested the qualification regatta in Tokyo - the men’s and women’s single sculls, lightweight double sculls and para single sculls.

Previously, Vietnam secured berths in swimming by Nguyen Huy Hoang, gymnastics by Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh, archery by Nguyen Hoang Phi Vu and Do Thi Anh Nguyet, and boxing by Nguyen Van Duong.

The Tokyo Games, which was delayed for one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8, with a total of 339 sets of medals across 33 sports.

Vietnam's best result in the Games was a gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol by Hoang Xuan Vinh at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

VNA