Taekwondo athlete secures Vietnam another Tokyo Olympic slot

On Friday in Jordan in the women’s under 49 kg category, she started in the quarterfinals with a 22-8 win against Pakistan’s Aysha Afsar.

In the semifinals she defeated Kazakhstan’s Fariza Aldangorova 26-12.

Since in each weight category two fighters qualify for the Olympics, the result of the final does not matter for Tuyen.

The world’s 12th ranked woman in the under 49 kg category won a SEA Games gold medal in 2015, a silver medal at the World Championship in 2017, and a continental title in 2018.

Another Vietnamese athlete can qualify in taekwondo, Tran Thi Anh Tuyet, who begins her quest for qualification in the women’s under 57 kg with a bout against Timor Leste’s Jennifer Lay.

Taekwondo brought Vietnam the first ever Olympic medal when Tran Hieu Ngan won a silver in 2000. The last time a Vietnamese qualified for the games was in 2012.

Tuyen is the ninth Vietnamese to win a berth to Tokyo after Luong Thi Thao and Dinh Thi Hao (rowing) Nguyen Huy Hoang (swimming), Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh (gymnastics), Nguyen Hoang Phi Vu and Do Thi Anh Nguyet (archery), and Nguyen Van Duong (boxing).

The Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8 with 33 sports.