Rio 2016: Vietnam's first-ever Olympic gold, inevitable or accidental?

Hanoi Vietnamese marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh won the firstever Olympic gold medal for Vietnam on the opening day of the ongoing Rio Olympics events and in doing so prompted many local sports experts to maintain it was no fluke but the inevitable result of Vietnamese sports developmentEarly on Sunday morning local time here Vinh won the gold in the mens 10m air pistol event On Wednesday night he managed to earn a silver in the mens 50m pistol event reports XinhuaVietnam started attending the Olympics in 1980 after its reunification Since then and ahead of the Rio Olympics Vietnam has won two silver medalsSeveral people said Vinhs success was merely an accidental result mainly thanks to the shooting events new rules However looking at sports development in Vietnam it is inevitableAccording to Vietnams sports development plan by 2020 with a vision to 2030 approved by the government in 2013 Vietnam planned to send 3040 athletes to the Olympics in 2016 with the tactic being to win two medals During the 20202030 period the country will gain 3050 Olympic berths and will earn more than two medals including one gold according to the latest planThis plan puts an end to 10 years of indecisive investment Previously many local sports officials said Vietnam should focus investment in the Southeast Asian SEA Games and does not need to set up a longterm sports development strategy while few others stated that Asian Games ASIAD and Olympics should be the country s priorityAfter the lacklustre performance at the 2010 ASIAD and 2012 London Olympics Vietnam has focused its investment on some 50 talented athletes potentially competing in 20 Olympics events Hoang Xuan Vinh is on the listIn a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua the head of Vietnams General Department of Sports and Physical Training Vuong Bich Thang attributed Vietnam s breakthrough at the Rio Olympics to the countrys choice of sports events which are suitable for Vietnamese people and their strengthsIn the past Vietnam focused on Olympic sports that require particular skills such as shooting and archery as well as events less popular in the country including table tennis tennis judo shortdistance track and field events and swimming among othersThang said this is the right path for the country as many Vietnamese athletes have gained Olympic slots in these eventsAccording to Vietnams sports development strategy ahead of 2020 the country has also paid due attention to sports requiring mass involvementIn 2015 Vietnam launched an Olympic Day Run for public health as part of the campaign on following President Ho Chi Minhs example of physical training and sportsVietnam always focuses on developing mass participation sports to promote public health and improve physical strength This is also a foundation to develop high performance sports From mass sports campaigns we can find talented athletes for further training Thang told XinhuaThe improvement in the economic situation of Vietnam has also helped to fuel sports investmentVicepresident of Vietnams Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang told Xinhua that the countrys investment for sports has been increasing Vietnam has invited foreign coaches to train Vietnamese athletes improved nutrition healthcare and training conditions for athletes invested more in sports equipment and sent athletes overseas for training Giang saidStatistics from Vietnams National Sports Training Center showed that Vietnam invested 48 billion Vietnamese dong more than 21 million US dollars in Rio Olympics trainingNguyen Thi Tat a local shooting coach who has had over 30 years of experience in the field told Xinhua that local shooters have to undergo training all year round and receive allowances during their trainingBefore any tournament athletes will have at least two or three months of intensive training including overseas training Tat said Ahead of the Rio Olympics Vinh was sent to South Korea for trainingThus proper planning the right selection of strategies solid support of sports involving mass participation and increased investment have brought success to Vietnamese sportsThe silver medal in the mens 50m pistol event or Vinhs second medal at the Rio Olympics has also underscored the fact that his own ability and strength contributed to the inevitability of his successDuring training Vinh who is a serviceman can stand still for two consecutive hours without talking or moving And with only 100 bullets for practice each day onefifth of the bullets of his foreign peers receive Vinh has also achieved an extraordinary psychological side which enhances the quality of his marksmanshipThis has further shown his talent and efforts Hoang Vinh Giang stated