SEA Games

Nông Văn Hữu performs in the men's nandao event of wushu during the 32nd SEA Games on May 12 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Nông Văn Hữu secured his first SEA Games gold medal on May 12 at the Chroy Changvar Convention Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Hữu made up the highest points in two performances of nandao (9.670) and nangun (9.673 points) to top the ranking table.

It was Hữu's second time participating in the regional sports meet. In the last Games in Hà Nội, he took two bronzes.

"I'm over the moon," said Hữu. "It is an amazing feeling. I have finally made my dream come true."

"Before the competition, I told myself that there is no underdog in this Games. The winner is the one with the best performance.

"When I saw my points of 9.67 for the second performance, I knew I won. Because after the nangun event yesterday, I was in the lead, so what I had to do was make good in the nandao.

"This win is for my family, especially my Mom. She has followed me since I began practising as an athlete. She calls me every day to encourage me when I am here. At this moment, I want to say, 'Mom, I love you'," he said.

Hữu was expected to help Việt Nam keep the gold medal in this event after veteran Phạm Quốc Khánh retired.

The 24-year-old Hữu said it was a pressure for him because Khánh was his idol, teammate and instructor who helped him to practise and give advice.

"Pressure is available in every tournament," Hữu said. "But when I wear the jersey of Việt Nam and hold the national flag in hand, I have to fight at my best. My rivals were strong, but it was my day. I had my confidence, and in a two-minute peak, I won. I hope that I can be a good successor to Khánh and do a good job like what he did in the international competitions."

Another medal in wushu was a silver by Phan Thị Tú Bình in the women's nandao.  

Ngần Ngọc Nghĩa of Việt Nam (centre) runs to win the 200m silver on May 8. He will race in the 100m event on May 12.

In athletics, Vietnamese Hoàng Dư Ý and Trần Thị Nhi Yến qualified for the finals of the women's 100m while Ngần Ngọc Nghĩa will run in the men's 100m.

While Ý and Yến will run for the first time in this category, while Nghĩa will for a second time. Last year, he failed to make the top three.

Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ will defend her title in the women's 10,000m.

Gold medals of track-and-field are on runners Nguyễn Thị Oanh and Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ. Lệ is defending champion, while super-woman Oanh, who won three golds already, is also taking part. 

In the 4x400m relays, while the Vietnamese female quartet will defend their title, the male will have to take it back after losing to Thailand last Games.

In the evening session of May 12, taekwondo martial artists will vie for gold in five finals of poomsae (performance).

Fencer Nguyễn Thành An of Việt Nam (left) competes in the qualification of the men's sabre event. He is the reigning champion.

The sabre fencers will defend their top places in both men's and women's categories.

Chinese chess masters Lại Lý Huynh and Nguyễn Thành Bảo will take part in the men's individual standard event.

The e-sport players will participate in the men's team final of PUBG-Mobile.

The finswimming team will compete in eight finals and is expected to bring many golds for Việt Nam this evening. The team won 10 out of 13 categories held in Việt Nam Games in 2022. VNS