Vietnamese shooters hunting Olympic slots

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Three Vietnamese shooters who will attend the 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup train with their advisor Park Chung-gun. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s shooting team has left for India to compete in the 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun), scheduled to take place in New Delhi from March 18 to 29.

The team, comprising three marksmen of Tran Quoc Cuong, Nguyen Dinh Thanh and Phan Xuan Chuyen, will compete at the men’s 10m air pistol.

The tournament is the final chance for Vietnamese marksmen to earn a berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games slated this July in Japan, the VNA reported.

Vnexpress said the shooters have not received COVID-19 vaccines, but all tested negative 72 hours before arriving in India. They will be tested again on arrival and isolated if found infected.

Marksman Tran Quoc Cuong. Photo: tapchithethao.vn

Tran Quoc Cuong, 47, is the star of the team. He is ranked 17th in the world by ISSF, and will win Olympic berths if he moves up one place and enters the top 16.

Coach Nguyen Thi Nhung said: "Cuong's performance has been very steady. The preparations were planned carefully.

"However, he will be under great pressure because this is the last opportunity for him to qualify for the 2021 Summer Olympics."

He has taken part in nine SEA Games since 2001 and won dozens of team and individual gold medals. He helped Vietnam win a gold and silver each at the 2016 Rio Olympics as he became the first gold medalist in Vietnamese history.

More than 300 shooters from 43 countries are set to compete in rifle, pistol and shotgun events in New Delhi.

The Vietnamese team is expected to finish on March 22, but will have to wait for 10 days for a flight home. Upon return, they will be quarantined for 14 days.

Only five Vietnamese athletes - two archers and a boxer, swimmer and gymnast each - have so far qualified for the Olympics against a target of 20.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 23 regardless of the pandemic situation./.

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