Wrestlers smash home five gold medals for Vietnam

The wrestling team had a “golden” afternoon today (December 9) blasting five gold medals to increase the number of titles that Vietnam has captured at the ongoing 30th SEA Games in the Philippines to 74.

Vietnamese wrestler Nguyen Thi Xuan beats Pingot Jiah of the Philippines 5-2 in the women's 50kg final.
Vietnamese wrestler Nguyen Thi Xuan beats Pingot Jiah of the Philippines 5-2 in the women's 50kg final.

Vietnamese wrestlers dominated the Greco Roman event with the supreme triumphs of Bui Tien Hai (men’s 60kg), Nghiem Dinh Hieu (men’s 87kg), Nguyen Ba Son (men’s 77kg) and Nguyen Dinh Huy (men’s 55kg). Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Xuan took top honour in the women’s 50kg category.

Together with the brilliance of wrestlers, Nguyen Thi Tam secured Vietnam’s first boxing title in the Philippines by defeating Magno Irish (Philippines) 4-1 in the women’s flyweight (51kg) final.

Boxer Nguyen Thi Tam competes in the women's 51kg title match. (Photo: Vnexpress)

Following the women’s individual title secured by Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi in the morning, the aerobic team brought home two more golds, with Phan The Gia Hien and Bui Minh Phuong winning the mixed pair category, and Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An and Nguyen Che Thanh finishing victorious in the trio discipline.

Nguyen Viet Anh, Nguyen Che Thanh and Vuong Hoai An clinch the aerobic gold medal in the men's trio event. (Photo: Vnexpress)

In addition, Vietnam won eight more silvers thanks to Nguyen Van Duong (boxing, men’s bantamweight 56kg), Nha Uyen (jujitsu, women’s bantamweight 54kg, women’s 45kg), Do Thanh Nhan (karate, men’s kumite +75kg), Chau Kieu Oanh and Nguyen Van Day (archery, mixed team compound), Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (swimming, women’s 800m freestyle), Nguyen Van Hai (boxing, men’s light welterweight 64kg) and Tran Thi Yen Hoa (athletics, women’s 100m hurdles).

Nine bronzes were added to Vietnam’s medal count this afternoon, including two in jujitsu (men’s U 62kg, women’s U 49kg), five in karate (women’s kumite +61kg, men’s team kata, men’s kumite -67kg, women’s kumite -61kg, women’s kumite -55kg), one in billiards (men’s English billiards singles) and one in athletics (men’s javelin throw).

As of 6pm today, Vietnam have climbed to second place in the medal table with 74 gold, 73 silver and 86 bronze medals, 53 golds behind the Philippines and two clear of third-placed Thailand.

The 2019 SEA Games medal tally as of 6pm on December 9.

* Aerobic earns 66th gold medal for Vietnam at SEA Games 2019