Walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc returns to the 30th SEA Games targeting to win her fourth title after four years rest. (Photo: tintucvietnam.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Philippines, hosts ofthe 30th Southeast Asian Games, have added six events in the competition listafter coming under heavy pressure from participating countries and the AsianAthletics Association (AAA).
The Philippines Olympics Committee announced last December they would organise56 sports with 523 events in the Games which will be held later this year.
Although it would be the record number of sports, other countries, including Vietnam,complained after a number of disciplines were omitted.
In track-and-field, they wanted to hold mixed 4x100m and mixed relay 4x400m forthe first time but refused 10 events including women’s high jump and long jumpwhich Vietnamese are the champions.
After meetings, organisers did a U-turn and brought the events back.
AAA did not approve the submitted entries of the Philippines and asked them tohold all athletic regular events including men’s and women’s 5,000m, 10,000mand walk otherwise the continental governing body would not acceptathletics at the November-December Games.
For the second time the Philippines filled up their competition list butwomen’s marathon and heptathlon were axed.
Vietnam are reigning champions of the men’s 5,000m and women’s 10,000m andsilver medalists in the men’s and women’s 10,000m, and women’s walk.
Walkers Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc and Nguyen Thanh Ngung expressed theirdisappointment after their events were cut. Now they are back as titlefavourites as both of them recently reached remarkable results that made themthe No 1 in ASEAN.
The sister and brother duo, who are both number one in ASEAN, took part in theAsian championship in Japan and both finished at seventh with a time of 1:30.15and 1:41.50, the best among Southeast Asian walkers.
Phuc won the SEA Games title in 2015 before taking time off for family reasons.
Vietnam hopes to repeat their success in Manila two years ago when they scoopeda record 17 gold medals.
The 30th Games will be held from November 30-December 11 with around 10,000competitors.
Two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam won 58 golds and finished third behindthe hosts (145 golds) and Thailand (72 golds).-VNS/VNA
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