Powerlifter Le Van Cong wins silver for Vietnam at Asian Para Games 2026
VOV.VN - Powerlifter Le Van Cong bagged silver in the men’s up to 49kg category on October 19, securing Vietnam’s first medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan.
Cong faced seven rivals from Jordan, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal and Kazakhstan in the final. His main challenger was Qarada, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Cong’s best lift across three attempts was 171kg, earning him silver. Qarada took gold with 176kg, five kilograms more than the Vietnamese athlete. China’s Chen Liuxun claimed bronze with a lift of 161kg, 10kg behind Cong.
The rivalry between Cong and Qarada drew significant attention, as both are major figures in the world of para-powerlifting. Qarada won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and successfully defended his title at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The Jordanian lifter is also the reigning Asian Para Games champion and holds the Games record of 182kg, set in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.
Cong, meanwhile, is the Rio 2016 Paralympic champion and currently holds both the world and Asian records in the men’s 49kg division with a lift of 183.5kg, recorded in Mexico City, Mexico, in December 2017.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Cong claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 49kg category, while Qarada took the gold. Both athletes reached the podium again at the 2026 Asian Para Games, with the Jordanian lifter once more finishing ahead of his Vietnamese rival.
Cong’s silver marks a positive start for Vietnam’s delegation at this year’s Games, giving the team its first medal of the competition.
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