Olympic medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh honoured

by PV/VTV17 August 2016 Last updated at 09:01 AM

(Photo: Minh Phuong)
(Photo: Minh Phuong)

VTV.vn - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed some of the Vietnamese athletes who competed in the Rio Summer Olympics back home on Tuesday. These include Hoang Xuan Vinh, Vietnam's first Olympic gold medalist.

The 41 year-old serving army colonel Hoang Xuan Vinh made history for Vietnam in Rio, when his near-perfect final shot clinched him a gold in the men's 10-metre air pistol event. He later also secured a silver medal in the 50-metre air pistol event. Thanks to the 2 medals, Vietnam is currently ranked 36 out of 206 countries and territories participating in the Olympics.

Vinh was awarded the Labour Order (First Class). His coach Nguyen Thi Nhung received the Labour Medal (Second Class). Shooting expert Park Chung Gun was awarded with Friendship Medal.

"Hoang Xuan Vinh has made history and brought joy to Vietnamese people, inspiring the young. Vietnamese people are proud of Hoang Xuan Vinh. This is not a victory to celebrate for sports but for the entire nation", Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Vietnam Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang proposed the State to award the Hero of Labour Medal to the shooter. Yet, the athlete proposed that the medal is awarded to the sports sector instead.

"The victory is thanks to efforts of the entire sports sector, thanks to the support of party and state. This is not owed to my efforts alone so I proposed to the prime minister that he awards this honourable medal to the sports sector", shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh spoke.

Vinh took up professional pistol shooting in 1999 at the age of 25 after making a name for himself in his military unit thanks to his refined marksmanship. Seventeen years later, the now military colonel has just made history for himself and Vietnam in Rio, winning the country’s long-awaited first Olympic gold medal since their debut at the sporting event in 1952.

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