Vietnam triumph at Asian Beach Games

Hosts Vietnam triumphed in the Asian Beach Games 5 (ABG5) after 10 competition days, bagging 52 gold, 44 silver and 43 bronze medals in 14 sports.

Vietnam beat RoK in the sepak takraw event at the Asian Beach Games in Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnam beat RoK in the sepak takraw event at the Asian Beach Games in Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)

Thailand came in second on the medal tally with 36 golds, 24 silvers and 30 bronzes, while China was third with 12 golds, 18 silvers and 19 bronzes.

On the last day of competition (October 2), Vietnam won a gold medal after beating the Republic of Korea 3-0 in the men’s sepak takraw final.

Host athletes won five out of 11 gold medals in the men’s and women’s categories of the Vietnamese traditional martial arts on the last day of competition.

The central city presented stuffed red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathryx nemaeus) as gifts to sporting delegations participating in the ABG5.

The city’s Foreign Affairs Department said the gifts would help Da Nang promote the protection of critically endangered primates in the Son Tra forest.

Vice Chairman of the city’s people’s committee Dang Viet Dung said the tournament was an opportunity for the city to boost tourism and awareness of environmental friendliness and biodiversity among competitors.

Dung said the endangered langur would make an impression on ABG5 participants and and visitors, as well as on people around the world.

The gift was developed cooperatively by Da Nang and the Biodiversity Conservation Centre of GreenViet. The stuffed langurs will be mass produced to sell to international visitors in the city.