Martial artist Mai Thị Kim Thùy performs in the female single hand practice, dragon tiger form at the SEA Games 31 on May 20. VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Đức

Thanh Nga

HÀ NỘI — Vovinam (Vietnamese traditional martial arts) martial artist Mai Thị Kim Thùy brought home a gold medal in the women's single hand practice, dragon tiger form, on May 20.

Thùy completed her performance with 272 points to take gold. The silver went to Khine Phoo War of Myanmar with 266 points, and the bronze belonged to both Chankanika Em of Cambodia and Manik Trisna Dewi Wetan of Indonesia.

In the women's single weapon practice, ying-yang sword form, Manik Trisna Dewi Wetan of Indonesia beat other rivals to triumph with 271 points. Aung May of Myanmar and Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Trâm took silver and bronze medals, respectively.

In the men’s 65kg category, Virekkaam Chhitphouthong Eh of Cambodia defeated Carlo Von Buminaang Basanio of the Philippines 7-2 to bag the gold.

Earlier, Vietnamese martial artist Đỗ Xuân Hiếu lost to Basanio 10-11 to take the bronze along with Myanmar’s Wai Thu.

Martial artists will compete in five more events in the remaining two days of the competition.

After nine years of absence since the SEA Games in 2013, vovinam has returned.

Athletes from countries in the region have invested in and maintained vovinam training very seriously for many years, leaving the quality of competition at the SEA Games 31 highly appreciated.

Vovinam made its debut in the Games in 2011 in Indonesia with 14 categories. However, it was absent in the three next Games for various reasons.

At this year’s Games, athletes are competing for 15 sets of medals: six combat categories and nine for performance.

The vovinam competition will last until May 22 at the Sóc Sơn Gymnasium with the participation of seven countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Laos, Thailand and hosts Việt Nam. — VNS