ASIAD 17: First gold medal for Vietnam

Thanks to her outstanding performance, Thuy Vi recorded 9.71 points in the women’s jianshu category and 9.70 points in changquan category to become Wushu champion.

Duong Thuy Vi

At the SEA Games 27 in Myanmar last year, the young talent also became the first gold medalist of Vietnam on the first day of competition.

Also on September 21, Vietnamese wushu artist Nguyen Manh Quyen pocketed a bronze medal with 9.67 points in the men’s gunshu event and 9.66 points in the men’s daoshu event. The gold medal was clinched by Chinese opponent Peiyuan, while Lee Yonghyun from the host country secured the silver medal.

In other news, the Vietnamese shooting team made disappointing show on September 21, failing to take any medals in the men's 10m air pistol.

Vietnam had three marksmen competing. However world record holder Hoang Xuan Vinh, one of Vietnam's golden hopes, performed poorly, coming seventh from a field of eight. His less-known teammate Tran Quoc Cuong was sixth.

Vinh scored only 98.4 points, much lower than the record of 202.8 that he set in the US in March.

In sepak takraw, Vietnam lost 19-21, 16-21 to Laos in the semi-final match of the women's doubles and took a bronze.

Earlier, fencers Vu Thanh An and Nguyen Xuan Loi, both were stopped at the last-16 round of the men's individual sabre event.

Male gymnasts also failed to win medals. They ranked fifth in the team all-round event.

Swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc earned a place in the men's 200m freestyle, but could not make top three.

In rowing, Le Thi An, Pham Thi Hue, Pham Thi Thao and Pham Thi Hai entered final of the women's quadruple skulls event on September 23 after qualifying in top position.

On the first day of competition on September 20, Vietnamese marksmen brought home one silver medal and a bronze.

ASIAD debutant Nguyen Hoang Phuong took the first silver in the men's individual 50m pistol event.

Phuong and teammates previously combined to win a bronze in the team event.

Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan failed to make a gold in the men's 56kg category as expected, but he set a games record in the snatch event with a lift of 134kg, 1kg better than Wu Jangbiao of China four years ago.

Tuan faced a strong rival from North Korea, Om Yun-choi, who performed outstandingly, setting a new Asian and world record with a total lift of 298kg.

Tuan was second with a lift of 294kg, which becomes his personal best. Wu was at third on 288kg.

After two days of competitions, Vietnam secured one gold, two silver and four bronze medals.