Vietnam sweeps 20 more golds, fulfill SEA Games target

Vietnamese athletes had a brilliant competition day at the 30th SEA Games on December 8 smashing up to 20 gold medals in athletics, archery, billiards, fencing, karatedo, muay, swimming and taekwondo.

Sunday, December 08, 2019 15:23

Vietnamese players celebrate after beating Thailand to win the SEA Games women's football gold medal.

The women’s football team beat Thailand 1-0 in the final this evening to secure the 65^th gold medal for Vietnam, helping the national sports delegation fulfill the target set prior to their SEA Games departure.

The athletics team pocketed the most golds on Sunday thanks to Le Tu Chinh (women’s 100m), Duong Van Thai (men’s 1,500m), Nguyen Thi Oanh (women’s 1,500m), Nguyen Thi Huyen (women’s 400m) and Tran Nhat Hoang (men’s 400m).

Le Tu Chinh defends her SEA Games title in the women's 100m event.

Archer Loc Thi Dao continued to display an impressive form joining teammate Nguyen Hoang Phi Vu to win the mixed doubles recurve event before clinching another gold medal in the women’s individual recurve shortly later, which was her third title in this year’s SEA Games.

The karate team won their first two golds in the Philippines following the success of Nguyen Thi Phuong, Luu Thi Thu Uyen and Le Thi Khanh Ly in the women’s team kata, and Nguyen Thanh Duy in the men’s -60kg kumite.

The fencing team completed a double of men’s epee titles, as Dang Tuan Anh, Nguyen Phuoc Den, Nguyen Tien Nhat and Truong Nhat Minh beat their Singaporean opponents 45-37 in the team final.

Billiards and muay added two golds to Vietnam’s medal tally thanks to cueist Ngo Dinh Nai in the men’s 1-cushion carom and fighter Bui Yen Ly in the women’s 54kg category.

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien smashed her sixth title at the 2019 SEA Games by winning the women’s 400m individual medley final with a time of 4:47.85. Young talent Tran Hung Nguyen blasted gold and broke the SEA Games record in the same event for men with a time of 4:20.65. This is the third record Vietnamese swimmers have established in the Philippines, following the previous two by Nguyen Huy Hoang (men’s 1,500m and 400m freestyle).

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (C) on the women's 400m individual medley podium on December 8.

The taekwondo team brought home two additional gold medals for Vietnam thanks to Pham Thi Thu Hien in the women’s -62kg (light) and Bac Thi Khiem in the women’s -67kg (welter).

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation won eight silver and 13 bronze medals.

As of 10.30 pm on December 8, Vietnam won a total of 65 golds, the same as Indonesia and 46 behind the Philippines.