Asian Games

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese rowers won the country’s first gold medal in the women’s lightweight quadruple sculls event at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 in Indonesia yesterday.

Tạ Thanh Huyền, Lường Thị Thảo, Hồ Thị Lý and Phạm Thị Thảo completed the race in a time of 7:01.11, 3.27 seconds faster than the Iranian runners-up and 5.11 seconds faster than bronze medalists South Korea.

The Vietnamese girls burst into tears at the finish as they quenched Việt Nam’s thirst for gold after four days of competition.

The result was a much needed surprise after the failure of several hopes for gold.

“I have never thought that I can win gold medal in the continental leading event. We are very proud to bring the victory to the country,” said Huyền.

Trần Đức Phấn, head of Việt Nam sports delegation in Indonesia couldn’t hide his joy.

“I am very happy and moved. The gold medal of rowing helped Việt Nam team ease the pressure. It will be a driving force for other athletes to perform better,” said Phấn.

With this result, Vietnamese rowers will receive VNĐ650 million (US$28,260) from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Việt Nam Olympic Committee and sponsors.

Meanwhile, rower Nguyễn Thị Hải ended in fifth place in the women’s singles sculls, while Lê Thị Hiền and Phạm Thị Huệ finished last in the women’s pairs event.

Việt Nam took one more silver medal yesterday after wushu artist Bùi Trường Giang lost to Shen Guoshun of China 2-0 in the men’s sanda 56kg category final.

Four years ago in Incheon, South Korea, Giang also bagged a silver medal after losing to a Chinese rival.

Giang, who was born in 1993 in the northern province of Thái Bình, won his first international bronze medal at the World Youth Wushu Championship in 2012 in Macau, China. He also won a silver medal at the World Youth Wushu Championships in 2014 in Turkey.

In other news of taekwondo, golden hope Trương Thị Kim Tuyền failed in the qualifying round. She lost to Yamada Miyu of Japan 27-35 in the women’s under 49kg.

This loss will be a lesson for world silver medalist Tuyền in upcoming events to earn a ticket to compete in the Olympic event which she dreams.

Tuyền’s teammate, Lý Hồng Phúc was defeated 16-27 by Abughaush Ahmad of Jordan in the men’s 68kg.

In pencak silat, Phạm Tuấn Anh beat Botsavang O Khe of Laos 5-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals of men’s 65-70kg in which he will face Phuttan Wutthichai of Thailand.

SEA Games gold medalist Nguyễn Duy Tuyến bested Phimmasone Savatvilay of Laos 5-0 in the men’s 85-90kg to reach the semi-finals. He will meet Pamungkas Aji Bangkit of India in the next phase.

Việt Nam now has 12 medals, one gold, four silvers and seven bronzes. — VNS