Vietnamese women boxers stand a good chance

The tournament draws 152 boxers from 13 countries and territories. Viet Nam sends 24 athletes to compete in all categories of the cadet and the women’s tournament, in which they hope to bring home the gold.

"The tournaments are a good test for young athletes in the future because I hope the women’s boxing will be selected for the Olympic Games’ roster," said vice- chairman and general secretary of Viet Nam Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang.

In the 48kg category of the women’s event, Viet Nam’s Nguyen Thi Chien beat Hong Kong's Tse Hei Wah.

Earlier, Dinh Thi Phuong Thanh playing in the women's 60kg event booked a berth in the second round after defeating Senanayake from Sri Lanka. Hoang Thi Thom won her first match against Abd Wahad of Singapore in the women's 46kg pool.

However, Le Hong Nhung and Le Thi Hang lost to rivals from India and Mongolia in 50kg and 52kg classes, respectively. National member Lo Thi Thuy Nam also failed to advance to the next round in her 46 kg category after losing quickly to Hmangte from Indian, while Ngo Thi Chung, boxing in the women's 64kg category, lost to Taiwan's Hsin Chih.

The number of women boxers joining the event has increased over the past three years, evidenced from over 100 boxers from 12 clubs competing in the national championships organised in Thai Binh last year.

According to experts, women’s boxing is a newly developing sport in the Southeast Asian region, and Viet Nam’s boxers stand a good chance against the best in the world.

"Vietnamese boxers have the potential to be the top in the world," said Vu Trong Thinh, head of the boxing section of the National Sports and Physical Training Committee.