On May 13, fencers Nguyen Phuong Kim and Vu Thi Hong compete in the women’s epee event, while Vu Thanh An and Nguyen Xuan Loi begin their SEA Games tournament in the men’s sabre. Fencing used to be one of Vietnam's top sports at the regional Games. In 2015, athletes picked up eight gold medals out of the 12 on offer. But at the following games in 2017 they only managed three out of six and in 2019, they lost their top spot winning just four out of 12. Coach of the Vietnamese fencing team Pham Anh Tuan said that in the SEA Games 31, the team is confident of winning three gold medals. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The competition between Vietnamese Nguyen Phuong Kim and Thai Thanee Korawan. The national fencing team has 24 athletes competing in 12 events, including six individual and six team events. The fencers began training after the Lunar New Year. With only a month to go until the main event, they had to train twice a day, focusing on improving their skills and stamina. Over the past two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fencers could only train in Vietnam. There were two domestic tournaments a year, not enough for the fencers to improve. The coaching board intended to send them to the Republic of Korea for training, but the plan was not approved.  (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Fencer Vu Thanh An in the fight with his rival from Thailand. The reigning fencing champion flew the flag for Vietnam at the SEA Games while Olympic gold medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh lit the cauldron in Hanoi on May 12. It was An’s fifth time taking the honorable duty for the nation. He previously took the responsibility at the Rio Olympics in 2016, SEA Games 2017 and 2019 and the Asian Games in 2018. An is considered a “lucky” flag bearer as after his service, Vietnam won their first ever Olympic and Asian Games golds. At this year event, An is one of Vietnam’s golden hopes in men’s sabre fencing event. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vu Thi Hong and her Thai rival Vasanasomsithi Pacharaporn. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Olympics Tokyo took place close to SEA Games 31, posing a challenge for fencers who had less time to prepare or recover their stamina. Over the past years, Vietnam has continually been among the best fencing teams in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese fencers pocketed eight of the 12 gold medals at the 28th SEA Games, held in Singapore in 2015. However, they won only three of the six gold medals at the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia in 2017 and four of the 12 golds at the 30th Games in the Philippines in 2019. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Coach Phan Anh Tuan said among the outstanding athletes, Vu Thanh An remains No. 1 or No. 2 in the region, and with his performance and constant training, An will still be able to advance to SEA Games finals even in the next three years. Young potential athletes who can succeed him include Xuan Loi, Duc Anh, and Van Quyet. Meanwhile, the key female fencers at this time’s Games are Nguyen Phuong Kim, Vu Thi Hong, and Nguyen Thi Trang, Tuan added. The biggest Southeast Asian rivals to Vietnam in this sport now are Singapore and Thailand. Fencing events with 12 sets of medals will take place at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium from May 13 to 18. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In the photo: Vu Thi Hong has an excellent win over her Thai rival Vasanasomsithi Pacharaporin with a score of 13-12 to earn a berth to the semi-final round. In comparison with Singapore and Thailand - its chief rivals in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese fencing is obviously falling behind in preparation for the upcoming SEA Games. According to head coach Pham Anh Tuan, while fencers from other countries participate in 8-10 international tournaments in a year, Vietnamese swordsmen barely compete internationally. Besides, the lack training equipment is a headache for fencing coaches and athletes, which has been chronic Games after Games, according to Pham Anh Tuan. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Tuan also said that as per the original plan of the coaching staff, athletes would take part in international training courses in the Republic of Korea, Croatia, and France, each lasting seven to ten days. However, due to force majeure, this plan was not carried out. In the past two years, on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fencers have almost practiced only in the country. Besides, the national tournament system of Vietnamese fencing is rather underdeveloped. Even in the absence of the pandemic, there would only be two competitions each year. Besides, the lack training equipment is a headache for fencing coaches and athletes, which has been chronic Games after Games. Fencers themselves have to buy or order new breeches and plastrons online, or wear the ones used years ago. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese fencing team joins the 31st Southeast Asian Games with 24 athletes. In order to win the three gold medals, the team has gathered since the beginning of January 2022 at the Hanoi National Sports Training Center and the Ho Chi Minh City National Sports Training Center. The medal hopefuls are still national veterans like Vu Thanh An, along with the young swordsmen, including Nguyen Minh Quang (born in 1997), Vu Thi Hong (1999), Phung Thi Khanh Linh (2000), among others. Coach Pham Anh Tuan said that the Vietnamese fencers have tried to overcome obstacles and “speed up” preparation for the golden goal at the SEA Games on their home field. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will be the greatest regional meet in Vu Thanh An’s career. The ASEAN No 1 fencer (L) carried the national flag for Team Vietnam and is targeting two gold medals. “It is a very special SEA Games for me. First, it is a showpiece organised in Vietnam and my home town Hanoi, a rare opportunity that an athlete may have just once in a lifetime if he is lucky. Second, I have to do two jobs at once: practising for a tournament and fighting against COVID-19. And third, because of the pandemic, athletes are put in an unusual situation. In the past, we had up to eight competitions per year. This year, nothing. It has not ever happened before”, An said. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will be the greatest regional meet in Vu Thanh An’s career. The ASEAN No 1 fencer (L) carried the national flag for Team Vietnam and is targeting two gold medals. “It is a very special SEA Games for me. First, it is a showpiece organised in Vietnam and my home town Hanoi, a rare opportunity that an athlete may have just once in a lifetime if he is lucky. Second, I have to do two jobs at once: practising for a tournament and fighting against COVID-19. And third, because of the pandemic, athletes are put in an unusual situation. In the past, we had up to eight competitions per year. This year, nothing. It has not ever happened before”, An said. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

An believes that defeat is unacceptable in such a special SEA Games. “It is my own way to encourage myself ahead of the important tournament. I want to remind myself to strive harder every day,” he said. The world No 46 said that COVID-19 has created many obstacles for him to maintain his performance levels. No intensive training and competitive tournaments have blunted his skills. Meanwhile, his feeling is, for now, not as sharp as necessary for a sport where time is an essential element. Each match lasts only nine minutes, not including two minutes of break. “We may practise well, but no competition means we can’t know how our abilities are. Sometimes our matches are not as good as in training, and we cannot compete as expected,” An said. (Photo: VietnamPlus).

An’s absence from international tournaments has even pushed him out of the leading group in Asia. An was Asian No 3 and was full of hope to grab his second Olympic berth in Tokyo last July. However, he could not find the flights to compete in the qualifications and his chance was lost. To make matters worse, his ranking dropped to No 12 in Asia. The champion, however, has massive support from family and friends, which he said brought a little pressure but strong encouragement, the likes of which he has never had before. Then An successfully protects his throne. (Photo: VietnamPlus).

Fencer Nguyen Xuan Loi loses 15-13 to his Thai competitor Ruangrit Haekerd. In the past two years, on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fencers have almost practiced only in the country. Besides, the national tournament system of Vietnamese fencing is rather underdeveloped. Even in the absence of the pandemic, there would only be two competitions each year, according to Tuan. The plan to send the fencing team to get training in the Republic of Korea did not go through as well. Besides, the lack training equipment is a headache for fencing coaches and athletes, which has been chronic Games after Games. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

“To solve the lack of contests, the coaching staff increased training for the fencers. The former swordsmen who have left the team are invited back as training opponents for young athletes. All other coaches are willing to put on protective gear and join the field. We have been determined to pass on our experience, methods as well as tactics, thereby partially compensating for the shortfall,” added coach Pham Anh Tuan. In particular, the team even arranged friendly matches between foil and epee fencers. Additionally, the swordsmen were required to focus on technical training to gradually improve their form and avoid unnecessary injuries, thus being in good shape for SEA Games 31. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese fencing team joins the 31st Southeast Asian Games with 24 athletes. In order to win the three gold medals, the team has gathered since the beginning of January 2022 at the Hanoi National Sports Training Center and the Ho Chi Minh City National Sports Training Center. The medal hopefuls are still national veterans like Vu Thanh An, along with the young swordsmen, including Nguyen Minh Quang (born in 1997), Vu Thi Hong (1999), Phung Thi Khanh Linh (2000), among others. At the region’s largest sport event, fencing competitions are held at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena (Hanoi) from May 13 to 18, with a total of 12 categories: men’s/women’s saber individual, men’s/women’s epee individual, men’s/women’s foil individual; men’s/women’s saber team, men’s/women’s epee team, and men’s/women’s foil team. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese fencer Vu Thanh An won gold at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) after defeating his Thai opponent in the final of the men's sabre individual event on May 13. After cruising through the group and knockout stages, An defeated Ruangrit Haekerd 15-11 to qualify for the final. His opponent Srinualnad Voragun was overwhelmed with a score of 15-7, with An successfully defending his SEA Games title. Vietnamese fencing coach Pham Anh Tuan said he believes that An will continue to dominate the sport. An brought the 16^th gold to the Vietnamese team after his victory over the Thai rival. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Earlier, An said his main rival would be Voragun. He is only 23 but has shown his talent since the 2017 Games five years ago. As far as An knew, he had participated in many events abroad in the last two years. Recently, he travelled to Hungary and competed in the World Cup. Besides, Singaporean athletes also form a strong team. They replaced Vietnam in the overall leading position of fencing in the previous Games. Although they have not taken An’s throne yet, three years have passed and things have changed a lot. The champion, however, has massive support from family and friends, which he said brought a little pressure but strong encouragement, the likes of which he has never had before. Then An successfully protects his throne. (Photo: VietnamPlus).