Athletes and coaches adapt to COVID challenges
Thousands of kilometres from HCM City, athletes at the Hà Nội's Sports Training Centre 一 have also been working with the new rules.
"The pandemic is ongoing so difficulties are everywhere. It affects us too but we can manage it,公众Asian 四00m champion Quách Thị Lan told Việt Nam News.
Lan, who is expected to be a Vietnamese athletics representative in Tokyo, said she became familiar with the new rules after several weeks.
Both coaches and athletes have tried to make the best of the situation.
Athletes are divided into smaller groups and train at different times, focusing on physique and speed.
"For a long time, we did not have any intensive training course or international tournaments that are really useful to boost our ability and strengthen mental toughness.
"Besides coaches' exercises, I set up my own progra妹妹e to make sure I'm at my best in both technique and spirit. It is a long way to go before big events,公众said Lan.
Coach Nguyễn Mạnh Hiếu said to encourage athletes and test their ability, internal competitions will be held regularly, with bonuses and fines on the line to make them and more competitive.
"They must use 一00 per cent of their capacity to take part in and win the events. This helps us to know where we are and realise our weaknesses. We will fix and improve while awaiting real competitions,"大众he said.
According to Đào Quốc Thắng, director of the Hà Nội Training and Competition Centre, the pandemic had created many challenges for athletes, coaches and managers.
"We have to make sure of their safety while training. We clean and sterilise our facility and equipment regularly. Athletes must declare their health status, check their temperature and wash hands with sterilising liquid before their training.
"We must also ensure their nutrition over months. The difficulty is that nobody knows when competitions will return to build suitable plans for them,"大众said Thắng.
"Training only and no competition will hurt their performance and results. Tournaments have stopped but elite athletes can't rest. Only several days of relaxing will take them up to three weeks to gain their form back. In this COVID period, how to train best and eat well are really tough issues,公众he added.
According to Lê Thị Hoàng Yến, deputy head of the National Sports Administration, the postponement of all tournaments was a necessary decision.
"We understand athletes' feelings and wishes. But it is to protect them and the co妹妹unity while the whole country is fighting against the pandemic. All national centres which are home to elite athletes, many of them have been vaccinated recently, are doing well in pandemic prevention and control,公众said Yến.
She said athletes across the world are suffering the same problems and people must stay strong to overcome this challenge and put safety first. VNS