Thanh Hà

Nguyễn Thị Oanh (right) and Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ run in the women's 5,000m event at the SEA Games 31 at the Mỹ Đình Stadium on May 14. VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

Nguyễn Thị Oanh took two running golds on May 14 at the Mỹ Đình Stadium during the first day of SEA Games 31's athletics in Hà Nội.

She defended her title in the women's 5,000m event with a time of 16min 44.06. Her teammate Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ came second, and Joida Gagnao of the Philippines came third. 

Earlier in the morning, Oanh also defended her title in the women’s 1,500m event after finishing with a time of 4min 14.98sec.

Her teammate Khuất Phương Anh came second in 4:26.90, and Singapore representative Goh Chui Ling was third in 4:33.41.

It was Oanh’s third time winning these two events at the SEA Games.

This year in the 1,500m event, she ran about three seconds faster than three years ago in the Philippines but was about 1sec slower in the latter event.

“I am happy to win the first gold medal for Việt Nam in athletics. I hope that it will be a good start for the track-and-field team. Together we will complete and exceed our assigned target,” Oanh said.

While Oanh is a veteran in the 5,000m event, Lệ is a new face. She often runs the 10,000m and the marathon.

Oanh will participate in the women's 3,000m steeplechase to defend her title on May 15. Meanwhile, Lệ will run in her favourite 10,000m.

In other categories, newbie Lương Đức Phước grabbed a gold in the men's 1,500m with a time of 3:55.37.

His teammate, Việt Nam national champion Trần Văn Đảng came second, and Filipino Alfrence Braza was third. 

In the men's javelin, Nguyễn Hoài Văn finally found the highest position on the podium. His final attempt of 70.87m brought him gold.

Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia and Melvin Calano of the Philippines were second and third, respectively.

Văn first took part in the SEA Games in 2019, earning a bronze.

In the mixed 4x400m event, Việt Nam failed to defend their title, losing out to Thailand in the last half-metre. VNS