Vietnam's Olympic medal hopeful in women's taekwondo will not participate in the world's biggest sports event because of poor health, according to local newspaper Youth on Thursday.

Hoang Ha Giang, a specialist in the 49kg category, is seriously ill and the 19-year-old Tran Thi Ngoc Truc will replace Giang in the event, the report said.

Vietnam will send 22 athletes to Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2008)