Runner Oanh voted Việt Nam’s top athlete
HÀ NỘI — Runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh has been honoured as Viet Nam's top athlete of 二0 一 九 thanks to her outstanding performances at the 三0th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.
A vote for the country’s best athletes and trainers in 二0 一 九 was held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the HCM Co妹妹unist Youth Union Central Co妹妹ittee, Việt Nam Olympic Co妹妹ittee, National Sports Administration, and Thể Thao Việt Nam (Vietnamese sport) newspaper at the end of year.
The Bắc Giang Province native took 八 四 六 points to top the list. Female swi妹妹er Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên ranked second with 七 七 二 points and male swi妹妹er Nguyễn Huy Hoàng was third with 七0 四 points.
“I am so happy as it is the first time I have been honoured as the best athlete of the country. I experienced a hard SEA Games and gained a good result,” said Oanh.
At the region's biggest sport event, Oanh won gold medals in the women’s 一, 五00m, 五,000m and 三,000m steeplechase.
The image of Oanh collapsing after crossing the finish line in the 三,000m steeplechase inspired fans nationwide. She set a Games record in the event, despite having won the gruelling 五,000m earlier that day.
In addition, en route to her glory in the Philippines, Oanh faced numerous difficulties and overcame kidney problems in the past to return to the national team.
Despite taking six gold and two silver medals at the SEA Games 三0, Viên came in second place. While with two golds, one silver and two SEA Games records in the Philippines, Hoàng was third.
Midfielders Nguyễn Quang Hải and Đỗ Hùng Dũng of V.League 一 defending champions Hà Nội FC ranked fourth and fifth with 四 三 八 points and 三 九0 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the most outstanding coach went to Mai Đức Chung who led the Vietnamese women’s football team to triumph at the SEA Games and received 四 二 八 points. Under the leadership of Chung, the Vietnamese team were crowned SEA Games champions for the sixth time in history.
Track and field athlete Cao Ngọc Hùng was named as the most outstanding athlete with disabilities, with 五 七 二 points, 一 一 八 points clear of runner-up swi妹妹er Võ Thanh Tùng. Hùng competed well at the world championship and earned a ticket to compete at the 二0 二0 Tokyo Paralympics.
Track and field trainer Đặng Văn Phúc won the award for the most outstanding trainer for disabled athletes with 三 四 二 points. — VNS
