>> Two gold medals lift Vietnam to ninth in ABG rankings
>> Vietnam claims third gold at Asian Beach Games
>> Petanque earns Vietnam fourth gold at Asian Beach Games
Gold medallists included Nguyen Hai Au (bodybuilding, bantam weight up to 165cm); Se Pha (bodybuilding, light weight up to 168cm); Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat (muaythai, men’s 57kg); Bui Yen Ly (muaythai, women’s 54kg); Cao Phu Thinh, Ly Ngoc Tai and Nguyen Xuan Loc (petanque, men’s team); Le Thi Thu Mai and Thach Tuan Thanh (petanque, mixed doubles); Nguyen Huyen Trang, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Phan Thi Phuong and Phung Thi Phuong (woodball, women’s fairway team), and Van Ngoc Tu (kurash, women’s -52kg).
In terms of the medal count, Vietnam finished third with 40 medals, behind overall champions Thailand with 126 (56 golds, 37 silvers and 33 bronzes) and runners-up China with 48 (16 golds, 11 silvers and 21 bronzes). It was an incredibly stunning deed for the Vietnam delegation, compared to the modest three-medal tally they won at the 2012 Games in China.
The 4th ABG took place on Phuket’s famous beaches and at its Saphan Hin Sport Centre from November 14-23, featuring the participation of 43 countries and territories from across Asia. Vietnam fielded a 153 athlete contingent to compete in 18 of the Games’ 26 sports.
At the November 23 closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai represented Vietnam accepting the hosting flag for the next edition of the Games, scheduled from September 24 to October 3, 2016.
