NDO – Vietnam will field a very young force at the 2021 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Japan with the goal of aiming towards the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the 2022 Asian Games (Asiad), and the 2024 Olympic Games.

The 10-strong Vietnamese contingent, headed by Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Nguyen Kim Lan, features six athletes (four males and two females) with five born between 2000 and 2002, namely Tran Doan Quynh Nam, Do Thi Ngoc Huong, Nguyen Van Khanh Phong, Van Vi Luong, and Trinh Hai Khang.

Some veterans like Le Thanh Tung, Dinh Phuong Thanh and Dang Nam will not be included in the squad.

According to Nguyen Kim Lan, all six gymnasts are debutants in the world-class arena, which will offer them the opportunity to accumulate experience in preparation for future major competitions.

“In the past two years, excluding the Olympic Games, the national gymnastics team has participated in almost no major tournaments. Give this fact, the world championship in Japan provides a good chance for the athletes, especially young ones, to gear up for the 2024 Olympic qualifiers, the 2022 Asiad and the 31st SEA Games 2021,” she said.

The 2021 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships are set to take place in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, from October 18-24.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of participating delegations has decreased to 56 (from around 90 in previous editions), with more than 700 officials, coaches and competitors.

The tournament will apply a strict closed-bubble principle as required by the Japanese government regarding accommodation, travel and competition to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control.