The Department of Physical Education and Sports requested clarification on the case of young national table tennis players complaining of hunger.
The Department of Physical Training and Sports chaired a meeting between the parties surrounding the incident of many young national table tennis players complaining of hunger and having their food money cut, which is causing a stir in public opinion.
On the afternoon of October 3, the leaders of the Department of Physical Education and Sports chaired a meeting between the coaching board of the national youth table tennis team, representatives of the My Dinh National Sports Complex, members of the Vietnam youth table tennis team... regarding the recent incident that caused a stir related to the poor quality meals of the athletes.
According to VietNamNet, this meeting has not yet reached a final result, as both sides have "differences" in information. For now, the leaders of the Department of Physical Education and Sports will take note of the reports and explanations from the insiders, then continue to verify and clarify the incident to make it public.
"The meeting has not yet had any specific results. We will have an announcement about this incident as soon as possible," said a representative of the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
The national youth table tennis team is currently managed by the Hanoi National Sports Training Center. The team is training at the My Dinh National Stadium, part of the My Dinh National Sports Complex.
Previously, images of the national youth table tennis team’s meals, as well as the issue of the players’ salaries, appeared in the press and social networks. Some athletes of the national youth table tennis team who are practicing at the My Dinh National Sports Complex (Hanoi) reported that they are often hungry because they do not have enough to eat, and have to go out to buy more food.
According to this picture, the athletes’ meals consisted of only a few dishes for 8 athletes, costing 800,000 VND. In addition, the athletes were only given a package of sticky rice and a can of soft drink in the morning, which was not enough nutrition for training.
According to the State regulations, young athletes and athletes of the National Team are entitled to a meal allowance of 320,000 VND/day/person. For the Vietnamese youth table tennis team, according to research, this amount is divided into 100,000 VND/breakfast, 120,000 VND/lunch, and 100,000 VND/dinner.
Speaking to VietNamNet, Mr. Phan Anh Tuan, in charge of the table tennis department of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, said: "Immediately after the above information appeared, the Department of Physical Education and Sports requested the coaching board of the Vietnamese youth table tennis team to give an explanation.
Coach Bui Xuan Ha confirmed that the above information is completely false. We also talked to some young athletes and they confirmed that they still eat well and are not hungry."
Regarding the fact that athletes have to transfer a certain amount of money each month to the Head Coach, Mr. Tuan said that Coach Bui Xuan Ha said that he kept it for his students to save.
