SEA Games

HÀ NỘI — Đinh Phương Thành and Nguyễn Thanh Tùng won two gold medals for Việt Nam at the Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday morning.

Thành defended his title in the gymnastics’ parallel bars event with 14.900 points.

Thành convinced jurists following his outstanding performance since the qualification, in which he also ranked top, all the way through to the final. He mastered all techniques with skilful and powerful movements, long holding on hands and impressive landing which was fully controlled.

It is his second title following the men’s team event on Sunday.

His teammate Phạm Phước Hưng bagged a silver with a finish of 14.150 points.

At the last Games in Singapore, these two teammates held the same rankings. Their results were much higher compared with the others competing in the event, proving Việt Nam has the most powerful athletes in the parallels event.

Third place went to Thailand’s Jamorn Prommanee who scored 13.850.

Lê Thanh Tùng, meanwhile, secured a double win earlier in the morning.

The World Cup and Asian champion encountered no difficulty in winning his favourite event – the men’s vault -- with two-and-a-half twists in the first attempt which gave him 14.400 and with two twists and stick landing in the second for which he was awarded 14.500 points.

His average of 14.450 points pushed him to the top spo.

Agus Adi Prayoko of Indonesia was second with 14.350 points. Filipino Capellan Reyland and Vietnamese Đặng Nam, who won the men’s rings event on Tuesday, bagged the bronze with 13.975 points.

Tùng then "stole" the gold medal from Thành in the horizontal bar.

Đinh Phương Thành prevents his title in the men’s parallel bars. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

Thành was the defending champion at this event. Prior to the Games, he was very confident and expected to maintain his position.

However, his teammate had a perfect morning, netting 13.350 points to win his second gold of the day and third of the tournament.

Thành ranked second with 13.050 points. He was followed by Jeremiah Loo of the hosts with 13.000.

“Lê Thanh Tùng performed really well today. His moves were really smooth, together with perfect technique, leading to his wins in both events,” coach Trương Minh Sang said, expressing his satisfaction with the performance of his athletes.

With five golds the gymnastics team, therefore, surpassed their target of four golds that was set before they departed for Malaysia.

Sang, however, said he had noticed an improvement in the performance of athletes from other countries. He said he would make some changes upon returning home to make sure Việt Nam maintained its leading role in the region.

In karate, Trang Cẩm Lành beat Tippawan of Thailand 8-0 in the women’s 55kg semi-finals, advancing to the final against host Skyakilla.

Asian U21 champion Nguyễn Thị Ngoan, however, lost 0-2 to Cok Istri of Indonesia in the semifinals of the women’s 61kg to pocket a bronze medal.

In tennis, No 1 seed Lý Hoàng Nam earned a berth in the last-four round of the men’s singles after beating Indonesian David Susanto, No 6 seed, 6-2, 6-4.

In shooting, Nguyễn Văn Quân and Phùng Lê Huyên advanced to the final of the men’s 50m rifle. Their teammates Hà Minh Thành and Đậu Văn Đông were No 1 and No 2 after the qualifier of the 25m rapid pistol.

In more action, the basketball team secured a big 103-65 win against Laos to top Group B. It is their second win at the SEA Games. Earlier, they beat Myanmar 95-90 and lost 73-89 to Indonesia. Their last game against Singapore will be on Thursday.

In swimming, Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên ranked fifth in the women’s 100m freestyle qualification with a time of 57.41sec and eighth in the 50m butterfly qualifier with 29.09sec. Her teammate Nguyễn Diệp Phương Trâm who was No 7 in the 50m butterfly will also compete in the final.

In the men’s 100m butterfly, Huỳnh Mẫn Đại and Nguyễn Ngọc Huynh qualified for the finals. Hoàng Quý Phước and Trần Ngọc Triệu will, meanwhile, participate in the men’s 200m freestyle finals. — VNS