Vietnam secures 11th ticket to Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
Vietnam won the 11th ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics after boxer Ha Thi Linh has been chosen as a representative at the Games this summer.
Linh stood out among the dozens of Vietnamese athletes participating in the ongoing second World Qualification Tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand.
She was the most successful athlete, as she helped the national boxing federation achieve its target of winning one Olympic slot, bringing the total to two.
On June 2, Linh secured her first participation in the world's largest sporting event this July by defeating Vilma Viitannen of Finland 4-1 in the play-off match of the women's 60kg category.
Earlier, she won over Ana Starovoitova of Lithuania 4-1 in the first match, Camila Paola Pineiro Muno of Uruguay 4-1 in the second round and Sara Beram of Croatia 4-1 in the quarter-finals.
She lost 0-5 to Agnes Alexiusson of Sweden in the semi-finals.
The SEA Games champion recognised that winning the play-off match was crucial for her to achieve her Olympic dream.
Both competitors displayed their strength and determination right from the start, creating a highly competitive match. However, Linh's superior technique and strength convinced the judges to award her four round wins, while Viitannen managed to secure only one.
She joined Alexiusson and Oh Yeonji of the Republic of Korea, the two finalists of this category, to participate in Paris Games.
Linh received bonus of US$2,700 from President of the Vietnam Boxing Federation Luu Tu Bao.
Linh is the 11th Vietnamese athletes to secure a berth at the Olympics following cyclist Nguyen Thi That, shooters Trinh Thu Vinh and Le Thi Mong Tuyen, boxer Vo Thi Kim Anh, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang, weightlifter Trinh Van Vinh, badminton players Nguyen Thuy Linh and Le Duc Phat, canoeist Nguyen Thi Huong and rower Pham Thi Hue.
