Gymnast Thanh voted best athlete of the year

January 01, 2012 | 11:13

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With 1,425 points, the Haiphong born gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh was awarded the “best athlete of the year” by the vote of nearly 200 domestic sport reporters and experts.

Thanh became the first Vietnamese gymnast to grab a bronze medal at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, and won a berth for the 2012 London Olympics.

The second place went to swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc, who finished first in the men’s 100m freestyle and butterfly events at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia, with 1,386 points.

Meanwhile, chess Grandmaster Le Quang Liem, who was unbeaten and ranked second at the Dortmund Chess Match last July, was placed third with 945 points.

He was followed by the Asian and SEA Games sprinting champion, Truong Thanh Hang, and the SEA Games gymnastics winner, Do Thi Ngan Thuong.

The remaining athletes in the top 10 included sharpshooter Ha Minh Thanh, high jumper Duong Thi Viet Anh, wrestler Tran Le Quoc Toan and two taekwondo martial artists Chu Hoang Dieu Linh and Le Huynh Chau.

Gymnastics trainer for the female team Do Thuy Giang topped the vote for best trainer of the year. The other places went to Do Anh Tuan (swimming), Ho Thi Tu Tam (track and field), Nguyen Thi Nhung (shooting) and Ho Anh Tuan (taekwondo).

The best handicapped athlete award went to swimmer Vo Thanh Tung, who broke two Asian records at the 26th ASEAN Para Games, and his trainer Dong Quoc Cuong won the best coach for handicapped athletes award.

VOV

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional