Vientiane sits atop the medal table at the fourth National Student Games after claiming eight gold medals.

The team has thus far claimed gold medals in the men's shot-put, men's discus, women's 100 metre sprint, men's 400m, men's 4x100m relay, women's long jump, women's high jump and men's badminton doubles.

Vientiane has many talented athletes at the national level but they have found it more difficult to win medals in track and field events at these games as teams from other provinces have vastly improved.

The best athletes from the Vientiane team will have the opportunity to compete in the Ninth National Games to be hosted by Luang Prabang province later this year.

The team is aiming for top ranking at the national games as well as the current student games, to which the Vientiane Education Department sent 99 male and 80 female athletes.

The Vientiane team did not manage to claim top ranking at the last national games in Champassak province in 2008.

Vientiane finished in top position at the 2nd National Student Games in Khammuan province in 2002 and also the 3rd Student Games in Luang Prabang province in 2007.

On Tuesday, the Vientiane top spinning team won a silver medal, while the crossbow, petanque and table tennis teams failed to medal.

In track and field, Savannakhet athletes won gold medals in the men's 5,000m, women's 400m and women's 4x100m relay events.

Borikhamxay province won a gold medal in the men's 100m, while Champassak province took gold in the women's 3,000m event.

In the table tennis event on Tuesday, Oudomxay province won gold medals in the mixed doubles, and men's and women's teams.

In the women's football final on Friday, Vientiane will face Savannakhet.

The Vientiane men's football team is also hopeful of playing in the gold medal match, especially as it has many talented players with experience in the Lao League.

The Vientiane men's football team claimed the silver medal at the 1st National Student Games in Vientiane in 1999 after losing to Saravan province in the final.

The student games continue with youngsters from all provinces vying for medals and possible selection for national honours.

The Lao Amateur Athletic Federation will use the games to select athletes to compete in the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia in November.