HÀ NỘI — Thạch Kim Tuấn won the first gold medal for Việt Nam at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Turkmenistan late Monday. 

Tuấn, who recently won a gold at the Malaysian Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last month, continued his winning streak to triumph at the men’s weightlifting event.

The Vietnamese lifted a total of 282kg. His nearest rival Trần Lê Quốc Toàn, who lifted 276kg, placed second, while China’s Jia Xionghui finished third, lifting 269kg.

Earlier, Vương Thị Huyền pocketed a bronze in the women’s 48kg category, losing out to China’s Xiao Huiying and Jumabayewa Yulduz of the host country.

In the athletics segment, Bùi Thị Thu Thảo competed against 11 others in the women’s long jump event. 

Thảo jumped 6.36m, 0.32m short of her feat at the Malaysian SEA Games. The result placed her second in the ranking. The gold went to Rypakova, who jumped 6.43m. Neena Varakil of India secured the bronze with 6.04m. 

After the first day, Viet Nam ranked at 11 with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. On Saturday, three other bronze medals were bagged by the jujitsu athletes.

Turkmenistan are currently at the top spot with 24 titles, followed by Iran (four golds) and Uzbekistan (three golds).

The fifth AIMAG is scheduled from September 17 to 27, with the participation of 45 Asian countries and territories and 17 others from Oceania.

Việt Nam, with 164 members, will compete in 14 of the 21 sports.

At the previous Games in South Korea, Việt Nam placed third, after China and the host country. — VNS