22 athletes to compete at Beijing Olympics

They include eight wushu martial artists (Vu Thuy Linh, Vu Tra My, Tran Duc Trong, Nguyen Huy Thanh, Nguyen Mai Phuong, Nguyen Thuy Ngan, Luong Thi Hoa and Truong Trong Do, three taekwondo fighters (Nguyen Van Hung, Hoang Ha Giang and Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu), two weightlifters (Hoang Anh Tuan and Nguyen Thi Thiet), o­ne table-tennis player (Doan Kien Quocs), o­ne gymnast (Do Thi Ngan Thuong), two badminton players (Nguyen Tien Minh and Le Ngoc Nguyen Nhung), o­ne shooter (Nguyen Manh Tuong), two track and fields athletes (Vu Thi Huong and Nguyen Dinh Cuong), and two swimmers Nguyen Huu Viet and Tran Thi Nhuan.

Among the qualified athletes, Doan Kien Quoc won the sole ticket in table tennis in Southeast Asia to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Meanwhile, Do Thi Ngan Thuong became the first Vietnamese gymnast in history to be selected for competition at the Olympic Games. She has been regarded as the best regional gymnast at three consecutive Southeast Asian Games where she has won a total of five gold medals.

Vietnam’s best performance so far at the Olympics was a silver medal won by female taekwondo artist Tran Hieu Ngan in Sydney in 2000.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will take place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing will play host to the 28 summer sports currently o­n the Olympic program. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games, with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.