The Vietnam sports delegation wrapped up their six days of competition at the recent Asian Para Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea placing in 10th place on the overall medal count with a stunning collection of nine golds, seven silvers and 13 bronzes.

General Secretary of Vietnam Paralympic Association and head of the contingent, Vu The Phiet answered reporters’ questions regarding the national team’s praiseworthy achievements at the Games.

What do you make of Vietnam’s amazing medal tally at the second Asian Para Games?

It was the best performance by Vietnamese athletes with disabilities at the continental-level Para Games so far. In addition to strong growth in the number of medals (29 compared to just 17 in 2013), our athletes also established a new world record (in powerlifting) and smashed four Asian records (one in powerlifting and three in swimming). This reflects Vietnamese athletes’ increasing abilities and indicates that the group of outstanding athletes has approached continental and world levels.

I appreciate the national contingent’s fabulous results achieved at this year’s Games, during which coaches and athletes exhibited their extraordinary efforts in every contest. This playing ground is intended separately for those who always strive to overcome hardships in their lives, however, our admiration for them is multiplied on eyewitnessing their competition. Vietnamese athletes with disabilities really made gigantic breakthroughs at the second Asian Para Games.

What do you think are the reasons for the team’s success?

Despite the difficulties faced by the sport sector, care for Vietnamese athletes with disabilities and their trainers has gradually improved. 2014 saw the first time the disabled athletes received long-term training (since the beginning of March) and enjoyed healthy diets at a cost of VND300,000 per person per day. They were also favoured with the best training conditions, which paved the way for the Vietnam delegation’s vigorous progress at the recent Games in Incheon and brightened their medal prospects at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I am very happy with the positive changes at present, however, there remains a lot of things that bother me. Most of the national team’s athletes are living in difficult situations and some of them are the main breadwinners in their family regardless of their impairments. They will return to their daily lives with burdens in the coming time, and some may not be able to pay relevant attention to sport training if their livelihood is not guaranteed. It will be really challenging for disabled Vietnamese athletes to maintain those achievements and prepare for big competitions.

What do Vietnam’s disabled athletes need for the purpose of conquering the 2016 Paralympics?

As I said, disabled athletes have been receiving strong support from State-governed agencies over the past years and always wish to get contributions and encouragement from other sources in society for further development. On one side, we should create a healthy playing ground so that the disabled can practise to improve their physical strength, and integrate more deeply into the community. One the other side, those with special sports aptitudes need to receive support to sharpen their abilities to bring them to the highest level of competition.

Right ahead of the second Asian Para Games, the Vietnam disabled athletes contingent received strong support from many organisations and enterprises before departing for the Games. I am very delighted with their assistance and particularly appreciate the support given by the ‘Join hands with Vietnam sports to conquer 17th Asian Games and second Asian Para Games’ programme, launched by the Vietnam News Agency’s Sports & Culture Newspaper, and Saigon – Ha Noi Insurance Corporation.

Their support was particularily valuable to many disabled athletes in difficult circumstances and drove them to compete with the highest determination for the best results. In the team’s journey ahead, we wish to continue receiving more support from State-run agencies, organisations and businesses, which will surely make it more convenient for us to fulfil our goals at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

Nhan Dan/VNN