Karate

Việt Nam’s former world silver medalist Nguyễn Thị Ngoan wins gold in the women’s U61kg class at the ninth Southeast Asian Karate Championship in Cambodia. Photo of tournament organisers

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam topped the ninth Southeast Asian Karate Championship, which closed in Cambodia on Sunday.

After five days of competition in Phnom Penh, Vietnamese athletes won five golds, five silvers, and three bronze.
 

Asian champion Hoàng Thị Mỹ Tâm of Việt Nam (right) competes and wins the women’s U55kg at the ninth Southeast Asian Karate Championship in Cambodia. — Photo of tournament organisers.

There were four winners in kumite (combat) including Asian champion Hoàng Thị Mỹ Tâm (women’s U55kg), former world silver medalist Nguyễn Thị Ngoan (women’s U61kg), SEA Games champion Hồ Thị Thu Hiền (women’s U68kg) and Trần Lê Tấn Đạt (men’s over84kg), and one in kata (performance) for the senior female Team.

Việt Nam women’s kata team perform at the ninth Southeast Asian Karate Championship in Cambodia. — Photo of tournament organisers.

Indonesia (five golds, three silvers, six bronzes) and Malaysia (five golds, three silvers, four bronzes) came second and third, respectively.

At the Southeast Asian Karate Conference on March 23, Vũ Sơn Hà, head of Karate Section of the Việt Nam Sports Administration, was voted President of the Southeast Asian Karate Federation for 2022-26. It is the first time Việt Nam has had an office at the top position of the regional federation.

Sơn is currently a member of the Asian Karate Federation’s Executive Committee.

The regional championship is a final test for ASEAN all athletes before the 31st SEA Games in Việt Nam in May.

Karate will hold 15 categories of both kumite and kata at the Ninh Bình Province Gymnasium from May 16-20.

Việt Nam will send 28 athletes, aiming for at least four gold medals. — VNS