Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (Photo VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Swimmer Nguyen ThiAnh Vien grabbed her fourth Best Athlete of the Year award after winning a voteorganised in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on December 28.
The 21-year-old topped the poll with 1,560points, just 21 points more than her nearest rival weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan(1,539 points).
Runner Le Tu Chinh came third winning 1,274points.
Vien convinced voters, about 200journalists, with her great performance at different competition throughout theyear.
Apart from medals that she took in theUnited States where she is training, Vien was gold-hope of Vietnam in all sportfestivals and she made it.
The girl brought home two golds, one silverand set a new record at the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts (AIMAG) inSeptember in Turkmenistan after eight top podium finishes along with threerecords at the Malaysian Southeast Asian Games in August.
It was Vien’s strong comeback after failingto win the award in 2016 to Olympic winning marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh.
Earlier, she dominated the category forthree years in a row from 2013 to 2015.
Lifter Tuan, 23, was considered theheaviest contender to win his first award of career after earning three goldmedals from the World Weightlifting Championships in the men’s 56kg category inthe US last month.
Earlier he grabbed a title from the Asian IndoorGames and Martial Arts (AIMAG) in September in Turkmenistan and another one atthe Malaysian Southeast Asian Games in August.
Chinh, 19, is a new rising sprinter butshone at her SEA Games debut with a hat-trick and one record. She also broughthome one AIMAG silver and two bronzes from the Asian Grand Prix Series.
Other athletes in the top 10 were gymnast LeThanh Tung, chess master Le Quang Liem, runner Nguyen Thi Huyen, and longjumper Bui Thi Thu Thao, in addition to wushu martial artist Dương Thúy Vi,swimmer Nguyen Huu Kim Son and weightlifter Trinh Van Vinh.
In the Best Coach of the Year pool,football trainer Mai Duc Chung topped the list of five nominees with 593points.
Chung was successful in helping thenational women’s team to win the gold medal at the Malaysian SEA Games.
This is the fifth time Vietnam have claimedthe title after winning gold medals in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2009, equallingThailand’s record.
He also played key role guiding thenational men’s squad to earn a slot in the 2019 Asian Cup finals.
Weightlifting coach Huynh Huu Chi camesecond, followed by swimming coach Dang Anh Tuan.
Powerlifter Le Van Cong concluded his greatyear with the award for Best Athlete with Disabilities of 2017.
Cong score 880 points to claim his thirdtime receiving the award following the years of 2015 and 2016.
Swimmer Vo Thanh Tung, the 2014 winner,finished second and powerlifter Nguyen Binh An was third.
With two athletes in the top three of theBest Athletes with Disabilities, coach Nguyen Hong Phuc, took his the Coach ofBest Athletes with Disabilities award this year. It was his third one in a row.- VNA
VNA
