HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese taekwondo athletes pocketed three bronze medals at the Chinese Taipei’s Summer Universiade on Monday.

In the women’s team poomsae (performance) category, Việt Nam’s Châu Tuyết Vân, Nguyễn Thị Lệ Kim and Ngô Thị Thùy Dung grabbed 7.680 points to stand third.

Chinese Taipei had the same points but were announced the silver medallists.

South Korea were on top with 7.900 points. 

In the men’s team poomsae, the trio of Nguyễn Thiên Phụng, Hồ Thanh Phong and Hứa Văn Huy finished third, together with Iran, with 7.570 points.

South Korea won the gold with 7.860 points. Chinese Taipei were second with 7.578 points.

In the mixed pair event, Vân and Phụng could not overcome athletes from the host country and South Korea, who placed first and second, respectively.

The taekwondo athletes wrapped up their tournament in two days with one gold for Lệ Kim in the women’s individual poomsae and three bronzes.

According to coach Nguyễn Thanh Huy, the performances were unexpected and the best result of Vietnamese students at the Universiade, so far.

Việt Nam have participated in the world’s largest sports event for students since 1979, but it is the first time the team have won a gold.

Previously, they bagged a bronze in taekwondo in Thailand in 2007. Since then, the delegation has won medals at all editions of the tournament but never a gold.

In Taipei, Việt Nam currently rank 15 among more than 110 countries.

South Korea lead with 10 golds, followed by North Korea and the hosts.

The taekwondo team will leave Taipei to participate in the Malaysian SEA Games.

Students participating in other disciplines will stay on to compete in athletics, gymnastics and wushu. — VNS