Aerobics

Việt Nam's team performs at the 34th Suzuki Aerobic World Cup's Group category on April 23 in Japan. They won a gold medal. Photos Suzuki World Cup

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam won a gold medal at the 34th Suzuki Aerobic World Cup on April 23 in Japan.

The Southeast Asian team successfully defended its title in the Group category thanks to Lê Hoàng Phong, Nguyễn Chế Thanh, Nguyễn Việt Anh, Vương Hoài Ân and Trần Ngọc Thúy Vi.

Their amazing performances won the judges' heart and received the highest points of 19.488.

France came second with 19.167 points and Japan third with 18.544.

Việt Nam also grabbed two silvers and one bronze.

Phong, Thanh and Hoàng Gia Bảo finished second in the Trio category, earning 19.600 points. They were behind France who topped the podium with 19.885 points. Spain came in third at 18.483.

Phong and Vi were second in the Mixed Pair pool. They took 19.650 points, just below the winning pair of Japan (20.250) while the Spanish duo stood third (19.300).

Nguyễn Chế Thanh of Việt Nam took the bronze in the men's individual event.

The only bronze of Việt Nam went to Thanh, who placed third with 20.250 points in the men's individual event. Mizuki Saito of Japan took the title with 21.350 points and Spain's Miquel Mane bagged the silver at 20.750.

The women's individual title went to Riri Kitazume of Japan, followed by Paula Garcia of Spain and France's Maelys Lenclos.

Vietnamese athletes made their mark in the junior event with Phan Thị Uyển Nhi taking third in the Junior Women's Individual.

The World Cup also saw athletes from Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines who did not win a medal in Japan.

The great performances will be a strong push for Việt Nam ahead of the 32nd SEA Games.

"Despite being a regional competition, the competitiveness in the SEA Games is a big challenge. Countries have made a strong investment in aerobics recently. Cambodia hired an expert from Brazil, Thailand has a Portugese coach while the Philippines asked help from a Hungarian trainer," said Phan Thùy Linh, general secretary of the Việt Nam Aerobics Federation.

"Việt Nam has been working with Bulgarian Ssiyana Shtilyanava Bozhillova for almost 10 years. She is a quality, experienced and dedicated coach who has played a key role in Việt Nam for years.”

She said Việt Nam is targeting three gold medals, as many as they did in the previous Games, at the Cambodia event next month.

Aerobic will be held from May 12-14 at the Olympic Stadium Centre Marquee Tent in the capital of Phnom Penh. VNS