Paralympics

Châu Hoàng Tuyết Loan competes in the women's powerlifting 55kg category during the Paris Paralympics on September 5. She was the last Vietnamese competitor at the event. AFP/VNA Photo

PARIS — Việt Nam ended their participation in the 2024 Paris Paralympics after all athletes completed their events on September 6 with Lê Văn Công's powerlifting bronze was the only medal won.

The last athlete Châu Hoàng Tuyết Loan finished fifth in the women's 55kg powerlifting with a best result of 96kg after her second attempt.

She tried to take 99kg in the last lift but did not succeed.

Rehab Ahmed of Egypt (121kg), Besra Duman of Turkey (113kg) and Kamolpan Kraratpet of Thailand (108kg) took top-three positions, respectively.

Earlier, Loan's teammate Đặng Thị Linh Phượng in her 50kg class was expected to at least repeat her record of a bronze that she took at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 or a silver as she did at the world championship in 2017. However, competing against seven strong rivals, she could not perform her best.

Her result was recorded at 98kg in the second attempt after a lift of 103kg in the last one was not recognised.

She finished eighth. Venezuelan Clara Sarahy took gold with a lift of 124kg which is a new Paralympic record. Chinese Xiao Jinping (119kg) and Britain's Olivia Broome (119kg) were second and third, respectively.

Lifter Nguyễn Bình An also failed in the men's 54kg.

The SEA Games champion registered 168kg in his first attempt but it was called 'No Lift'. He suffered shoulder injury and withdrew.

Phạm Nguyễn Khánh Minh made his Paralympic debut on September 4. Screen shot Photo

Runner Phạm Nguyễn Khánh Minh, the youngest member of Việt Nam Team, took part in the men's 400m T12 heat on September 4. He finished third in the second heat in a time of 51.28sec, setting his seasonal best. But it was not enough to qualify for the finals.

Two swimmers of Việt Nam also failed to take top three in their men's 100m breaststroke SB5 event. Lê Tiến Đạt and Đỗ Thanh Hải placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

After eight days of competitions, lifter Công is the most successful competitor of Việt Nam as he won a bronze in the men's 49kg class.

Lê Văn Công of Việt Nam reacts during the men's powerlifting 49kg final at Porte de La Chapelle Arena on September 4 in Paris, France. AFP/VNA Photo

Although his score of 171kg was far below his world record of 183.5kg Công's achievement was praised as he competed with a long-time shoulder injury.

The former world and Paralympic champion posted on Facebook: "I won bronze for Việt Nam at the Paris Paralympics. This result is worse than a silver at the Tokyo and a gold at the Rio but this is the most meaningful one for me.

"In this competition, I not only lifted the barbell and was against strong rivals but also faced my own injury which was the biggest challenge that I had to overcome to step on the podium. A bronze is a great consolation for me."

His injury affected Công after the first lift of 171kg but he still tried to increase the weight to 176kg in the second and 181kg in the third attempt. He failed in both and the injury became more serious.

Công, the first Vietnamese sportsman who made Paralympic medal hattrick, said he would spend time to treat his injury and come back stronger to bring more achievement for Việt Nam in the future.

Currently, China still dominate the medal tally with 74 golds. The UK is second with 36 gold and the US third with 27. The 17th Paralympics will close on September 9. VNS