HÀ NỘI — The women’s three-string bow team won another silver for Việt Nam in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the NSC Synthetic Turf Field in Malaysia on Thursday.

The Vietnamese team featuring Lê Ngọc Huyền, Châu Kiều Oanh and Nguyễn Thị Nhật Lệ lost to Malaysians Faten Nurfatehah, Saritha Cham Nong and Nurul Shazhera 253-252 in a pulsating final.

Malaysia started on top; however the Vietnamese side managed to draw level on 225 points going into the last shot.

“I was very worried as in the last shots, the two teams consecutively tied. However, Lệ encouraged me. When our shot came, we hugged each other for strength,” Oanh said.

With the same points, the two teams faced a shoot-off, with each player of both teams shooting once.

In the first shot, Huyền scored eight points, while the Malaysian archer scored nine. This proved decisive, with the teams both scoring nine and 10 points on their next arrows.

“Each day a female archer fires about 300-400 arrows. They only score eight two or three times out of these 300-400 shots. Of course, that is in training. When they faced the hosts in the final, they felt under pressure. I’m disappointed but I don’t blame my players,” said coach Cáp Mạnh Tân.

“Việt Nam made every effort until the last minutes. However, Malaysia played better so they deserve to win,” Tân added.

Earlier, 20-year-old archer Oanh brought home the first silver medal in the women’s individual three-string bow category after losing to Sri Ranti of Indonesia 143-144 in the final.

Meanwhile, Việt Nam only finished fourth in the men’s three-string bow.

Việt Nam lost to the Philippines 230 – 233 in the bronze medal match.

Malaysia won the gold medal defeating Singapore 228-222 in the final.

Việt Nam’s golden hope Nguyễn Tiến Cương was expected to shine in Malaysia but the 29-year-old player failed to medal in both the individual and team event.

"The most important is that Cương keeps calm,” said Tân.

On Friday, Việt Nam will compete in the mixed doubles. — VNS