Đặng Nam performs in the Sea Games. — Photo zing.vn

SEA Games 

HÀ NỘI — Gymnast Đặng Nam defended his title in the men’s rings event at the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday morning.

Nam displayed a perfect performance and scored 13.400 points. His veteran teammate Phạm Phước Hưng came second with 13.550 points.

Both athletes had secured the same positions at the Singapore SEA Games two years ago.

The bronze went to Dwi Samsul Arifin of Indonesia.

Coach Trương Tuấn Hiền said he was not surprised with Nam’s victory. His high score was expected because Nam has reached world level.

Earlier, Vietnamese gymnasts did not succeed in the floor and pommel horse events.

In wushu, Phạm Quốc Khánh bagged his second silver in the men’s nanquan (southern-style boxing), earning 9.66 points.

Mun Hua Ho of the hosts won the gold, only 0.01 point higher than Khánh.

Md Sufi Shayiran of Brunei was at third. 

Khánh’s first silver was from the nangun and nandao combination event on Monday.

Nguyễn Thuỳ Linh picks her second SEA Games silver. — Photo tienphong.vn

His teammate Nguyễn Thùy Linh also won her second silver, coming second in the women’s nandao and nangun combination.

Indonesian Juwita Niza was the champion while Vietnamese Nguyễn Thục Anh claimed the bronze.

Wushu will continue today with two-time winner Dương Thúy Vi participating in the women’s changquan event. She is expected to complete her gold hat-trick after earlier winning in the qiangshu and jianshu events.

Other events of wushu that Vietnamese athletes will compete to day are men’s and women’s taijijian.

In cycling, the men’s team of Huỳnh Thanh Tùng, Mai Nguyễn Hưng, Nguyễn Trường Tài and Trịnh Đức Tâm earned a bronze in the 50km time trial.

Malaysia and Thailand were first and second, respectively.

Đặng Nam (right) and Phạm Phước Hưng celebrate their winning. — Photo laodong.vn

In archery, Lộc Thị Đào and Chu Đức Anh were third in the mixed doubles recurve event, beating the Philippines 6-2.

In swimming, golden girl Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên successfully topped two events -- the 200m backstroke and 400m freestyle qualifications.

She is the defending champion in both categories. The finals are scheduled tonight.

Four other Vietnamese who also bagged berths in the finals are Phạm Thành Bảo and Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn (men’s 200m breaststroke), Vũ Thị Phương Anh (women’s 50m breaststroke), and Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt and Nguyễn Ngọc Huynh (men’s 200m butterfly).

In shooting, Olympian winner Hoàng Xuân Vinh ranked second behind teammate Trần Quốc Cường in the men’s 50m pistol event qualification.

Both athletes advanced to the final, but coach Nguyễn Thị Nhung said Vinh’s performance of 546 points were not a good result, and much below his performance during practice. Nhung said he was worried about Vinh’s chances of winning a medal if he did not improve his performance tonight.

Female shooters Lê Hoàng Ngọc and Phạm Thị Hà, meanwhile, earned their slots in the final of sport pistol, while Nguyễn Duy Hoàng is scheduled to compete in the men’s air rifle final.

In more action, the football teams will be playing tonight. The women will play defending champions Thailand in a so-call early final. The men need a win over Indonesia to be certain of securing a semifinal berth.

The futsal squads also compete today. The women will compete again the hosts while the men will meet Myanmar. — VNS