Hanoi (VNA) – Withsome good news Vietnamese athletes brought home at the first days of the new year, peopleexpect many sports achievements in 2022 when the country will host and takepart in a number of major regional and international tournaments.

On February 1 - the first dayof the Lunar New Year, the men’s national football team defeated China 3 - 1 inthe last Asian qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The win at My Dinh Stadium inHanoi not only earned the first points for the team of head coach Park Hang-seobut also helped Vietnam go down in history as the first Southeast Asian representativeto secure a triumph in the last Asian qualifiers of a FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, the women’snational team beat Thailand one day later - on February 2 and then ChineseTaipei on February 6 at the matches held in India to officially advance to thefinals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After the futsal team, femalefootballers of Vietnam have secured a success in entering a World Cup final round,believed to be an impulse for athletes of other sports to strives for importanttargets in 2022, especially at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAGames).

Following repeated delays due tothe COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, the 31st SEA Games is going to takeplace in Hanoi and neighbouring provinces in mid-May.

As most of the sports host Vietnamselected for this event are those competed at the Olympic Games and Asian Games(ASIAD), the 31st SEA Games are expected to have the best quality compared tothe previous ones.

TranDuc Phan, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration, saidthe 31st SEA Games won’t omit any categories of the Olympic sports,aiming to improve the competitiveness of not only the country but also theentire region.

Athletesare being sent to more training and competitions, both athome and abroad, to prepare for the SEA Games as well as other large tourneys,including the 19th Asian Games, the 4th Asian Para Games,and the 3rd Asian Youth Games in China; the 7th Childrenof Asia International Sports Games in Russia; and the Francophone Games in theDemocratic Republic of Congo this year, according to the official.

Theadministration is also enhancing coordination with ministries, sectors, and localitiesto make the best preparations for the coming SEA Games, Phan added.

Withthe sector’s efforts, the Party, Sate, and Government’s support, along with managersand athletes’ dedication, Vietnamese sports are hoped to obtain newachievements in 2022./.