Asian Games

Vietnamese athletes on the podium after winning a bronze medal in the coxless fours at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. — VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's rowers have won the country's first medal at the 19th Asian Games on September 24 in Hangzhou, China.

Quarter Đinh Thị Hảo, Hà Thị Vui, Phạm Thị Huệ and Dư Thị Bông finished third to collect a bronze in the women's coxless fours at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre.

The Vietnamese side started in lane three and were in the leading group with China and Japan. They even went ahead to take lead in the middle of the race.

However, China proved their power to finish first in a time of 6min 42.03sec. Japan passed Việt Nam in the last metres for the second position on 6:47.04.

Việt Nam were third clocking 6:52.35, which was not as good as they did (6:39.89) in the qualification round.

"I am happy, even though I have a few regrets. This is an achievement of all four athletes," said Hảo who won Việt Nam a silver in this event in the 2018 Games in Indonesia.

"I hope that in the next Games, Việt Nam will earn more valuable medals."

Việt Nam (in red) seen during their race.

Meanwhile veteran Huệ expressed she was proud that it was her fourth time at the Asian Games (ASIAD).

Present at the venue, Chief-de-mission Đặng Hà Việt said the first medal would be a strong push for the Việt Nam team. He would give a bonus for the quartet and call for more awards for them from sponsors and enterprises.

Earlier, Việt Nam's duo Nguyễn Thị Giang and Phạm Thị Thảo did not succeed in the women's double sculls.

They did good job in the first 500m but their poor fitness pulled them off and they finished last with a time of 7:33.33.

The Chinese pair Lu Shiyu and Shen Shuangmei finished in 7:03.41, with Iranian Mahsa Javar and Zeinab Norousi taking silver, almost 14sec behind.

Thailand's Nuntida Krajangjam and Parisa Chaempudsa won bronze on 7:21.70.

In other activities, taekwondo martial artist Trần Hồ Duy ensured at least a bronze in the men's individual poomsae (performance) event as he advanced to the semi-finals.

He will be against Kang Wan-jin of South Korea to vie for a final match berth in the afternoon.

Vietnamese athletes also take part in 14 other sports including shooting, boxing, table tennis, chess, fencing, esport, wushu, and football in the first day.

Medals are up for grabs in nine sports on day one of the 19th Asian Games, with China expected to top the overall medals table by the time the action closes on October 8. — VNS