Tu Chinh the one to chase as Vietnam emerge as new force in athletics
SPRINTER Le Tu Chinh is clearly the new poster girl of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
The Games debutant is not just a pretty face. She’s pretty darn fast too – with her three-gold feat making her the undoubted star of the Vietnam athletics squad and the KL Games.
Vietnam have emerged as the new dominant force in regional athletics after winning 17 out of the 45 golds at stake.
Vietnam’s haul of 17-9-5 finally ended Thailand’s domination in athletics, having reigned supreme in the last 15 Games.
Thailand finished second overall with a haul of 9-12-11, followed by Malaysia with 8-8-9.
The Philippines, the next Games hosts in 2019, had a haul of 5-3-9.
This is also the first time that Vietnam are overall athletics champions since the Games began in 1959.
And Tu Chinh is at the forefront of Vietnam’s athletics revolution.
She emerged as the new speed queen in South-East Asia when she completed the sprint double – winning the 100m in 11.56 and 200m in 23.32.
She then anchored the Vietnam 4x100m relay squad – also comprising Nguyen Thi Oanh, Quach Thi Lan, Tran Thi Yen Hoa – to a new Games record, clocking 43.88 to erase the previous mark of 44.00 set by Thailand at Myanmar 2013.
And Tu Chinh is walking on air after her remarkable exploits.
“I’m on cloud nine, actually. This is my first SEA Games and I never expected to win three golds and break the Games record in the 4x100m.
“It feels great to contribute three golds for my country. I’m also happy that we (Vietnam) emerged as overall champions in athletics for the first time. Our Vietnam Athletics Association targeted 12 golds for these Games and we surpassed it by winning an extra five,” said Tu Chinh.
Tu Chinh said she would now focus on next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta from Aug 18-Sept 2.
“I’m now the fastest woman in South-East Asia. So, I will train harder to give my best at the Asiad,” she said.
At Singapore 2015, Thailand emerged overall champions with 17-13-9 and Vietnam finished second with 11-15-8.