Judo

Siblings Nguyễn Hoàng Thanh (left) and Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thủy pose with their certificates and gold medals at the Southeast Asian Judo Championship. Photo of Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thủy

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam won 13 gold medals to top the Southeast Asian Judo Championship, which wrapped up on January 9 in Malaysia.

All the best athletes were sent to the Penang tournament, and they secured golds in five men's and seven women's combat categories in competitions of elite fighters.

Among the winners are Phạm Quốc Quân (men's 55kg), Nguyễn Hoàng Thanh (men's 60kg), Nguyễn Châu Hoàng Lân (men's over-100kg), Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thủy (women's 52kg) and Nguyễn Thị Như Ý (women's over-78kg).

The championship also had classes for junior athletes. Vietnamese competitors successfully brought home 11 titles in both men's and women's pools.

“This is a tournament for our athletes to have their best preparation ahead of the 32nd SEA Games and the 19th Asian Games later this year," said Nguyễn Hữu An, judo official of the Việt Nam Sports Administration. "Not only athletes, but also the coaching board will learn a lot from the championship and adjust our plans for coming important tasks.

"This year, in addition to the regional and continental Games, we target to have athletes qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” he said. VNS