First-ever Vietnamese cyclist qualifies for Olympics
Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 12:05 GMT+7
Cyclist Nguyen Thi That achieved a historic milestone at the 2023 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships on Monday to technically qualify her as the first athlete from Vietnam to secure a spot to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
That would also be the first Vietnamese cyclist in history to participate in the Olympic Games.
Her successful qualification can be attributed to the gold medal she clinched in the women’s event of the 2023 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships in Thailand on Monday, when she triumphed over a racecourse that stretched across 109 kilometers.
During Monday’s event, That benefited from the consistent support of her teammates, Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, and Tran Thi Thuy Trang, who helped her integrate into the leading peloton.
She impressively outperformed her formidable competitors, including Sun Jiajun from China and Jutatip Maneephan from Thailand, to secure the championship title.
As stated by Huynh Van Chanh, the head coach of the Vietnamese cycling team, this outcome facilitated That’s participation in the Paris Olympics as the reigning Asian champion.
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| Vietnamese cyclist Nguyen Thi That holds a Vietnamese national flag after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships in Thailand, June 12, 2023. Photo: M.C.H. |
However, he emphasized that this particular slot is designated for athletes from nations that do not qualify for the Olympics based on the World Cycling Union (UCI) rankings or the World Championships.
Consequently, That will need to await official confirmation from the UCI for her participation in the Paris Olympics, scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Although the Vietnam Cycling Federation (VCF) has yet to receive an official response from the UCI, the international referees from UCI overseeing the Asian tournaments have informally confirmed that the Vietnamese women’s cycling team has secured one official spot to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on Tuesday cited Nguyen Ngoc Vu, general secretary of the VCF.
Last year, That claimed the gold medal in the women’s elite 111-kilometer road race at the 2022 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships held in Tajikistan.
The 2023 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships took place in Rayong, Thailand from June 7 to 13.
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