SEA Games

Marksman Trần Quốc Cường wins in the men’s 50m pistol event. VNA/VNS Photo

 HÀ NỘI  — Athletes in shooting, canoeing and chess were winners at the 31st SEA Games on May 17 morning in Hà Nội.

Marksman Trần Quốc Cường won gold in the men’s 50m pistol event.

After six attempts of 10 bullets, the 48-year-old shooter grabbed 548 points, surpassing Naung Ye Tun of Myanmar (546) in second and Boriphat Jariyatakone of Thailand (545) in third place.

“My result is not as good as it was in practice and previous competitions. However I am happy with the gold medal,” said Cường who was on top of the podium again after seven years.

Cường will retire after this Games.

Canoeist Nguyễn Thị Hương won gold in the women’s 1000m event in the Thủy Nguyên Rowing Centre in Hải Phòng City.

She beat Riska Andriyani of Indonesia and Thet Phyo Naing from Myanmar.

Her teammate Đỗ Thị Thanh Thảo, Ngô Phương Thảo, Đinh Thị Trang and Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mai bagged a silver in the women’s Kayak Four 1000m.

They were behind the team from Thailand, while Indonesia were third.

In chess, husband and wife Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn and Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên won the men’s and women’s rapid chess events.

Sơn defeated Tin Jingyao of Singapore in the last round while Nguyên beat Gong Qianyun, also from Singapore at the Quảng Ninh Province’s Exhibition of Planning and Expo Centre.

Việt Nam also took silver in the mixed mountain bike cross country relay.

There were five teams with four athletes each competing in the 20.8km race.

Malaysia took the gold in 1hr 23.14min. Việt Nam were second on 1:23.48 and Thailand third on 1:24.54. VNS