Ha Noi (VNA) - Vietnamese judokas are gearing up for the Qatar Asian Games at the Viet Nam Open Judo Championships this weekend in Ho Chi Minh City.
More than 160 judokas, including many regional stars, are competing in 20 weight categories for both men and women in the two-day international tournament, the 15th of its kind, to be kicked off on Aug. 5 at the Military Zone 7 Gymnasium in HCM City.
Host Viet Nam, who will bring four teams to the tournament, aims to clinch at least three gold medals to maintain their second-place ranking.
At last year's meet, Viet Nam finished with three gold, six silver, and 13 bronze medals, behind the Republic of Korea.
Chanchai Suksuwan, who won a gold and two silver medals in the last three Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, will spearhead the Thai force which includes nine SEA Games medallists rivaling in 18 weight categories.
Filipino John Baylon, who won six consecutive golds at the SEA Games from 1993 to 2005, will take charge of the Philippines who, with four other SEA Games medallists, are competing in 11 weight categories.
Myanmar will also send their best line-up, including three SEA Games medallists, to combat in seven events.
Indonesia's national team features Southeast Asian medallists, while defending champions RoK and Japan will both take part with their top players.
Viet Nam's national senior team, which holds most of the host's hopes, brings their top athletes to the table, including female SEA Games 48kg defending champion Van Thi Ngoc Tu, SEA Games 63kg gold medallist Nguyen Thi Nhu Y, and Nguyen Thi Kieu, who just won a gold in women's 57kg at the Thailand International Judo Championships early last month in Chanthaburi.
Male athletes Nguyen Quoc Hung, under-66kg, and Ly Huynh Long, under-100kg, are also candidates for winning championships since they both took bronzes in the Thailand International event last month.
Three weeks ago in Thailand, Viet Nam came in second, behind RoK.-Enditem
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