Athletes born in the year of the snake

Although the country’s football squads have endured a disappointing year, midfielder Nguyen Sa still enjoyed great success.

The 24-year-old player was part of SHB Danang’s V-League championship effort, and was selected for the national team in 2012.

In 2013, he wants to help his club defend the title and represent the national squad for the first time. His 2012 ambitions were thwarted by injury and a run of unconvincing performances.

Weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan, another Danang athlete, expects good results at regional tournaments and wants to reclaim his gold medal at the upcoming SEA Games.

He will have strong rivals in the form of his older teammates 2008 Olympic silver medalist Hoang Anh Tuan and 2010 Youth Olympic gold medalist Thach Kim Tuan.

Toan plans to better the two silver medals won at the 2012 Asian Weightlifting Championships and is intent on totally dominating the 56kg event.

This year, bodybuilder Dinh Kim Loan—a golden girl of An Giang sports—wants to maintain her previous success.

In 2012, she brought home gold at the Asian Bodybuilding Championships’ 49kg event and a silver at the International Bodybuilding Championships’ 50kg event.

Loan and her male teammate Pham Van Mach are the country’s highest hopes for gold medals at the Asian tournament.

Rowers Pham Thi Thao and Pham Thi Hai gave their best efforts to win berths at the 2012 London Olympics.

The duo will defend their three golds at the Asian championships in both the women’s lightweight and double scull events.

The pair’s most desired victory is a first time triumph at the 2013 SEA Games, a totally attainable goal if they can continue their good form.

The Haiphong-born aerobic mixed-double team Vu Ba Dong and Tran Thi Thu Ha astonished with their two golds at the Asian tournament.

The success of Dong, Ha, and another male athlete Nguyen Tien Phuong represents a breakthrough for the sport in Vietnam.

The trio is expected to continue shining at the 2013 ASEAN and Asian competitions.

In Muay Thai, Ho Chi Minh City martial artist Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat also surprised, bringing home two gold medals from international championships.

Nhat said he is still amazed at his success but is fully aware that this year will be much tougher as the opponent other martial artists most want to beat.

Nhat is confident he can show his supremacy again.

Wushu martial artist Nguyen Huy Thanh won a gold medal at the 2012 Asian Championships. He now wants to express himself at the 2013 SEA Games and compete for medals at international tournaments.

Golfer Tran Le Duy Nhat is also expecting success at many Asian Tour events after domnating at the national level. Nhat’s popularity has boomed after his win at the Thailand’s Singha Golf Classic last December.

Nhat said he will compete in 30–35 professional golf tournaments with the intention of collecting points for the US Open, a major draw for the world’s best players.