The ASEAN School Games' torch was lit on Wednesday and arrived in Semarang yesterday. — Photo inaasg2019.com

The team represented the biggest ever from Vietnam.

They joined about 1,600 student athletes and officials from 10 ASEAN countries as participants at the Holy Terang Bangsa School.

The Vietnamese athletes will compete in six out of nine sports.

According to Nguyen Thanh De, head of the delegation, the Vietnamese players could bag medals in the track-and-field, table tennis and pencak silat as they have been prepared with training and competing abroad.

However, the students are not given any targets at the regional tournament.

Speaking to athletes in Hanoi before their departure, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia said it was a chance to gain experience which would help to narrow the gap in sports between students of Vietnam and the region.

She said students should be confident and compete for honour of themselves and the country.

The Games will wrap up on July 25.

At last year’s Games in Malaysia, Vietnam finished fifth with 13 golds. Top three were Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, respectively.

VNS