Vietnam claims first-ever Paralympic gold medal
Disabled weightlifter Le Van Cong made history for Vietnam as he crowned the men's 49kg event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in Brazil at dawn on September 9 (Vietnam time).
Cong became the first-ever Vietnamese athlete to snatch a Paralympic gold medal as he completed the competition with a new world record of 183kg.
He left the silver medalist way behind, as Jordan’s Omar Qarada finished second with only 177kg. The bronze medal went to Hungarian Nandor Tunkel, who lifted 155kg.
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| Le Van Cong (VIE) of Vietnam holds his gold medal following men's Paralympic Powerlifting competition . Photo (Reuters) |
According to the Paralympic.org website, Cong broke the Paralympic record with his first attempt at 175kg but Qarada grabbed the lead and the record back with a 177kg lift with his second attempt.
The pressure was then on Cong as he failed with his second attempt of 179kg to remain in the silver medal position going into the final round.
However, the Vietnamese lifted for the occasion with a successful 181kg effort to propel himself back into the lead and regain the Paralympic record.
Team Vietnam has 11 athletes at the ongoing 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Prior to their departure for Brazil, the team has high hopes to claim its first-ever medal in the event, following Vietnam’s first Olympic gold last month with a record-breaking performance by shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh.
The dream was realized.
The Paralympic Games runs from September 7 to 18.
