Athletics 

Trần Thị Nhi Yến (left) on the second podium of the women's 200m of the Asian U20 Athletics Championship which closed on April 27 in Dubai, the UAE. Photo of VAF

HÀ NỘI -- Trần Thị Nhi Yến earned two silvers at the Asian U20 Athletics Championship which closed on April 27 in Dubai, the UAE.

Yến finished second in the women's 100m event in a time of 11.40sec, setting her personal best, a new national youth record on April 26.

The result is only 0.7sec short of the Việt Nam record (11.33) and much faster than the world U20 championship standard of 11.78. 

Yến and Chinese Chen Yujie quickly ran away and separated from all other rivals. They set up a race of two in 90m. Chen was the better one as she crossed the finish line in a time of 11.32 for the gold.

They both qualified for the world championship in August in Lima, Peru.

Later, she was second in the women's 200m event, clocking 23.48sec. She was behind Liu Yingland of China who won with a time of 22.94. Thai runner Jirapat Khanonta was third, on 24.34.

All three will see each other against at the world championship in Peru.

At the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held in Cambodia back in 2023, she bagged a bronze medal in the 100m and a silver medal in the 200m events. 

Yến also finished sixth at the Asian Championships 2023's 100m. At the 2023 Asian Games she was eighth in the 100m and seventh in the 200m on her debut.

Apart from Yến, Việt Nam also have Lê Thị Tuyết Mai qualified for the Lima tournament in the women's 400m hurdles. Although Mai did not enter top three, her result of 1:00.81  in the qualification was better than the standard time of 1:01.00.

Việt Nam sent six competitors to the Asian championship. They competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump events. VNS