Asian Games

Dương Thúy Vi poses with her bronze medal from the women's jianshu-qiangshu all-round event at the 19th Asian Games on September 27 in Hangzhou, China. VNS Photo Quý Lượng

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam won two bronze medals in martial arts at the 19th Asian Games on September 27 in Hangzhou, China.

Southeast Asian Games wushu champion Dương Thúy Vi finished third in the women's jianshu-qiangshu all-round to take the first medal of the day for Việt Nam.

In this category, eight athletes compete in two performances. The combined points of both decide the winner.

Dương Thúy Vi performs in the women's qiangshu.

In the morning, Vi scored 9.700 points for jianshu for sixth place. She did a better job with 9.726 points in the qiangshu which placed her in second position in the afternoon. With a total of 19.426 points, the former champion could not defend her title but secure a bronze.

Vi stood behind Lai Xiaoxiao of the hosts who earned 19.600 for her performance and Iranian Zahra Kiani who got 19.436 points.

Dương Thúy Vi (right) on the podium with her bronze medal at the 19th Asian Games on September 27 in Hangzhou, China.

"I was the first athlete to compete in the first event so it was a little pressure. Despite sixth place, I still felt good because I thought I did my job well and I told myself to do better in the afternoon," said former world champion Vi, who said this will be her last Asian Games.

"I kept myself in the most comfortable mode. I competed as I trained at home. Trying to do my best and have no minus points. Anyway, I am happy with what I have done, happy with the final result."

This is the first medal of Việt Nam's wushu team which still has a chance to earn more with athletes in the semi-finals of the sanshou (combat) competitions.

Earlier, Bạc Thị Khiêm secured a bronze in the women's 67kg taekwondo category.

The SEA Games runner-up successfully defeated 18th Asian Games silver medallist Kim Jan-di of South Korea 2-0 in the quarter-finals. The result was enough for her to take a bronze.

Bạc Thị Khiêm (right) won a bronze in the women's 67kg taekwondo category.

In the semi-finals, Khiêm however could not repeat her outstanding performance against Song Jie of the hosts, losing 2-0.

The taekwondo team ended their Games with three bronze medals.

After four days of competitions, Việt Nam has bagged one silver and six bronze medals, ranking 21st in the medal tally. VNS