VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Lua, 18, took up wrestling to get fit. She began when she was just 12. Within three years she was an international sensation.

She was born and brought up in Dong Quang commune, Quoc Oai district - the home of wrestling in Viet Nam.

She was initially coached by her relatives. When she was in 6th grade, her school launched a wrestling class.

Lua's mother warned her that she was only a little girl and that she would find it difficult.

She replied that she would simply do her best.

Lua said: "There were initially 90 girls in the class, but 60 dropped out. Eventually I was selected to become a professional wrestler by the provincial sports department.

She went from strength to strength on becoming a professional and just one year later won a bronze medal in the women's 46kg at the National Youth Wrestling Championship.

Two years later she won a gold medal at the youth event and a silver at a national tournament. In 2007 she won a bronze medal at the Youth Asian Championships.

In May she brought home another bronze at the Asian championships and two silver medals at the Asian Youth championships in July.

In early August, she took part in the World Youth Wrestling Championships in Ankara, Turkey, which attracted about 120 wrestlers from 20 countries. Viet Nam was the only Southeast Asian nation to take part. Although Lua didn't win a medal, she made it through the qualifying stages.

Training

Lua said she trains hard every day, running, doing handstands. She has a scar on her face which she got while training. She says its hazard of the job. "It is a career scar. My teammates also have them."

She took just two days off training after returning from Ankara before travelling to China to hone her skills for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Laos and the Asian Games next year.

She's hoping to win a gold medal in both events.

Nguyen The Long, head wrestling at the National Sports Administration, said: "Lua has a natural talent for wrestling. She is very skilful. If she trains hard she will do very well in the sport. She is very young and should blossom into a top class athlete. A bright future awaits her."

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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