Swimming

Nguyễn Huy Hoàng met no difficulty in winning and setting a new record at the 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championship 800m freestyle event. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Huy Hoàng set a new record at the 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championship in the first day of competition on February 26 in New Clark City, the Philippines.

The former Youth Olympic silver medallist finished first in the boys over-18 800m freestyle. His time of 8min 1.69sec was a new height for the tournament, taking down the old record of 8:10.05 set by Indian athlete Rawat in 2019.

This was Hoàng's strong category as he secured bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and qualified for the Paris Olympic this summer.

Earlier, SEA Games champion Phạm Thanh Bảo championed in the boys over-18 100m breaststroke, clocking 1:01.31.

Trần Hưng Nguyên topped the boys over-18 200m individual medley with a time of 2:03.35.

The last gold was in the boys 15-17 years old 200m individual medley by Dương Văn Hoàng Quy who swam in 2:08.21.

Vietnamese athletes also pocketed seven silvers and five bronzes in swimming, and two silvers and six bronzes in diving.

The championship, which lures more than 1,400 athletes aged 11 to 18 from 45 countries this year, is a highly anticipated and prestigious swimming event that brings together young swimmers from across Asia. Held under the patronage of Asia Aquatics (formerly known as the Asian Swimming Federation or AASF), it showcases the immense talent and potential of the region’s emerging swimmers.

In addition to swimming and diving, athletes will also compete in synchronised swimming and water polo until March 9. — VNS