Trần Hưng Nguyên celebrates his men's 400m medley win on May 15. VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

Thanh Hà

Trần Hưng Nguyên set a new record in the SEA Games 31 men's 400m medley on May 15 at the Hà Nội Water Sports Palace.

The Vietnamese swimmer finished first with a time of 4:18.10 to take a gold medal. His new record was more than two seconds better than the 4:20.65 he set at the previous Games in the Philippines.

It is also the new national record of Việt Nam.

Nguyên was left behind in the first 100m butterfly but he came back in the second lap of backstroke and pulled ahead in the last two laps.

His 16-year-old teammate Nguyễn Quang Thuấn came second and Aflah Fadlan Prawira of Indonesia was third.

"I have waited this day for a long time. It is my favourite category, when I can show my best," Nguyên told the media.

"I trained hard, I also had good results in competitions prior to the SEA Games. I was really confident defending my title," the 19-year-old said.

Nguyên will next compete in the 200m medley and also plans to defend his top position.

Singapore showed their domination in the water with golds in the men's 100m freestyle for Quah Zheng Wen, men's 50m butterfly for Teong Tzen Wei, women's 800m freestyle for Gan Ching Hwee and the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.

Thailand secured gold in the women's 200m breaststroke thanks to Phiangkhwan Pawapotako. Indonesian Wolf Masniari won the women's 50m backstroke.