Vietnam will be represented by 476 athletes at the 29th SEA Games.

Vietnam will send a sports delegation made up of 693 members to the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, taking place in Malaysia from August 11 to September 1, targeting 49-59 gold medals and a place among the top three countries in the overall medal tally.

On July 3, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien signed a decision to establish a sports contingent, which will represent Vietnam at the largest regional sporting event of the year.

Accordingly, Deputy Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, Tran Duc Phan, will serve as head of the Vietnamese delegation. In addition, the team also includes 10 deputy heads, 18 officials, 22 doctors, 32 leaders of sports departments, 28 specialists and 106 trainers.

A total of 476 athletes will shoulder the responsibility of competing for medals for Vietnam, including 264 males and 212 females, who will compete in 32 out of the total 38 sport events.

Ahead of the departure for the Games, coaches of national teams will announce specific lists of members in each team.

Members of the four teams, including bowling, hockey, cricket and synchronised swimming, will have their expenditures in Malaysia covered by non-State funding sources.

At the 28th SEA Games in Singapore two years ago, Vietnam ranked in third place overall with 73 gold medals.

(Source: NDO)