Hanoi (VNA)- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a meeting in Hanoi on September 3 with150 officials, experts, coaches and athletes attending the Asian Games (ASIAD)2018, which ended in Indonesia a day earlier.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen NgocThien also attended the meeting, where the PM commended the achievements of theVietnamese sports delegation.

This year’s ASIAD sawVietnam bring home four gold medals, 16 silver and 18 bronze, ranking 17th outof 45 countries and territories in the medal tally.

Especially, the Vietnam Olympicfootball team was praised for reaching the bronze-medal match for the firsttime ever. Although the team lost to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 3-4 in apenalty shootout, their performance was celebrated by fans and the boysreturned to a hero’s welcome.

Vietnam’s journey to thecompetition’s top four teams gives hope for the team to advance further at thecontinental level on the football pitch.

Speaking at the event, PMPhuc stressed that these results were more meaningful when they came to theoccasion of the whole country celebrating its National Day (September2). 

Coaches, athletes showedtheir willingness, desire of Vietnam sports as well as unity spirit and proudof the country in the Asian event, he said.

This victory also bringsthe belief for the Vietnamese people in sport, PM Phuc said.

Despite difficulties,the Party and State always paid attention to investment in sports andimprovements in policies and mechanisms for coaches and athletes, the leaderstressed.

PM Phuc asked theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to take measures to uphold the strengthand continue bringing Vietnamese sports to a new height.

He also requestedrelevant agencies to work out better regulations on sports and improve policiesand mechanisms for coaches and athletes.-VNA