Athletics

Nguyễn Thị Hường poses with Việt Nam's historic bronze medal in the women's triple jump event at the Asian Athletics Championship on July 12 in Thailand. — VNS Photo Nam Trung

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Thị Hường has won Việt Nam's first medal at the ongoing Asian Athletics Championship in Thailand.

Hường on Wednesday finished third in the women's triple jump with a result of 13.68m, made in the final sixth attempt.

It was the first time that a Vietnamese athlete advanced to the top three of the continental triple jump event.

Her result was a surprise to both Hường and her coaches who laughed with joy after hearing her result. The 22-year-old beat the SEA Games champion Parinya Chuaimaroeng of Thailand, who also won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

At the 32nd SEA Games, Hường took a bronze medal with a 13.46m jump.

Mariko Morimoto of Japan topped the Asian podium with a jump of 14.06m. China's Rui Zeng came second with 14.01m.

Earlier, Vietnamese runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh failed in the women's 1,500m. The SEA Games champion could only finish fifth with a time of 4min 18.84, which was two seconds slower than when she ran in the Phnom Penh Games in May.

The top three runners were Nozomi Tanaka (4:06.75), Yume Goto (4:13.25) of Japan, and Gayanthika Artigala of Sri Lanka (14:14.39).

On July 12, two 400m runners Nguyễn Tùng Lâm and Trần Đình Sơn were not qualified for the final.

The next day, runner Huỳnh Thị Mỹ Tiên secured a berth in the women's 100m hurdles final. She finished fourth in the first qualification heat with a time of 13.46sec, better than the result that helped her win a SEA Games gold two months ago. 

Her teammate Bùi Thị Nguyên was disqualified as she was number five after 13.61sec in the second heat.

Tiên will take part in the final in the evening session.

Việt Nam sent 20 athletes to compete at the Bangkok championship from July 12-16. — VNS