Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Vietnamese marksmen set a relatively modest goal of earning three gold medalsat the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia.

“The 2017 Games will be a difficult event for us, as the hosts [Malaysia] cutall team events, which are a strong point of Vietnam.

As usual, Vietnamese best shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh will compete in three or fourcategories. However, in this Games, one of Vinh’s key events, centre-firepistol, has also been removed. So Vietnam team only target three golds. If theteam can do that, it is a success,’ said head coach Nguyen Thi Nhung.

At the 28th Games held in Singapore two years ago, Vietnamese shooterscontributed 11 golds to Vietnam’s medal count.

Vietnam will send 23 shooters competing in 11 out of 14 divisions.

Among three gold medals which Vietnam aim to grab, Vinh is expected to taketwo. The remaining gold is for Nguyen Xuan Chuyen, Phan Công Minh or Bui HongPhong.

According to the International Shooting Sport Federation rankings, Olympic Rio2016 gold medalist Vinh still leads the men’s 10m air pistol, while in the 50mair pistol he ranks second after Jin Jongoh from the Republic of Korea. 

However, Nhung said Vinh’s glory at the Olympics doesn’t ensure that he willearn gold at the regional sports festival, as the shooting’s result depends onmany factors.

“Each event has different features. Vinh’s Olympic gold medal doesn’t guaranteethat he can maintain his elite performance in the regional tournament. Hisbiggest difficulty is ability of focus and pressure following his achievementsin Brazil Olympic,” Nhung said.

Vinh also admitted that “many people ask me if I met pressures when competingin other tournaments after winning an Olympic gold? I answered yes. But infact, pressure is a normal thing for athletes like me. If athletes want to win,they are forced to overcome it,” said Vinh.

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Early this year, Vietnamese marksmen competed in the World ShootingChampionships in India. Vinh from the Military team snatched a silver medal inthe 10m air pistol. In the National Shooting Cup in April, the 42-year-old Vinhwon four gold medals.

In the list of shooters competing in Malaysia, Iwaki Ai, 17, is a specialtalent. A young shooter of both Vietnamese and Japanese blood, she excels inthe 10m air rifle event.

Ai is seen as one of the brightest young shooting talents in Vietnam. She won anumber of impressive achievements so far in national and international eventsafter completing nearly three years of shooting training.

For instance, she won bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait atthe age of 15.

“Ai has made great advances via each tournament. She is a top prospect for thenear future,” head coach Nhung said.

Dam Thi Nga brought home the nation’s only gold medal in the women’s 10m airrifle at the SEA Games in the Philippines 12 years ago. Now Ai is expected toreplace Nga to shine in this event.-VNA