Track and field: Vietnam dominates 1,500m distance

The track and field team continued to enjoy a successful day of competition, adding two more gold medals to Vietnam’s SEA Games 2017 tally thanks to the shining performance of Nguyen Thi Oanh and Duong Van Thai on the 1,500m races.

Duong Van Thai has won a double gold medal in this year's SEA Games.
Duong Van Thai has won a double gold medal in this year's SEA Games.

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Oanh was crowned the women’s 1,500m champion with a time of 4:20.51, securing Vietnam’s first gold on the fifth official day of the 29th SEA Games.

Only 15 minutes later, Thai helped Vietnam to dominate the 1,500m distance by winning the men’s competition in 3:51.44, nearly two seconds faster than the Thai silver medalist (3:53.41).

This is Thai’s second title in this year’s SEA Games. Earlier on August 23, he took top honour in the men’s 800m run, clocking a time of 1:48.97.

Track and field is currently one of the teams that secured the most gold medals for Vietnam (eight golds), alongside wushu and gymnastics.

Together with the success of the athletics team, the karate artists also contributed an additional gold medal to Vietnam’s tally this afternoon, following the impressive victory of Le Thi Khanh Ly, Nguyen Thi Hang and Nguyen Thi Phuong in the women’s kata (demonstration) final.

Cyclist Mai Nguyen Hung brought home a bronze medal for Vietnam in the men’s mass start discipline.

Track and field athletes, Quach Cong Lich and Luong Van Thao, have qualified for tonight’s men’s 400m final after getting through the seminal round with respective times of 47.6 and 47.52 seconds.

As of 5pm on August 24, Vietnam was standing firmly in second place on the provisional medal haul with 31 golds, only behind hosts Malaysia with 53 golds.