Asian Games

HÀ NỘI – Battered, bruised and bleeding, Vietnamese martial artist Nguyễn Minh Phụng won a silver medal at the Asian Games (ASIAD) in Indonesia on Saturday.

He was beaten to the top spot in the 84kg final by world No 1 Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran.

“My goal at the ASIAD was to take gold medal,” said Phụng from Bình Dương “However, my Iranian rival was very strong so I only came to second. Anyway, I am satisfied with this result in terms of effort. I played with all my heart and ability,” said Phụng.

“In the final match, I was beat in my brow and I was shocked. Earlier, I was injured in my face in the qualifying round. This affected to my competition form,” Phụng added.

Talking about the blow to his face, Vũ Sơn Hà, head of karate section of the National Sports Administration said: “It was a dangerous attack which was antipersonnel. In karate, there are many punishment levels. With that action, the Iranian should have eliminated from the game. However, referees didn’t give their decision.”

Phụng’s medal is the first one of Việt Nam’s karate in this year’s tournament.

It has been Phụng’s best result so far. Four years ago, he left the ASIAD held in Incheon, South Korea empty handed after losing to Jang Min-soo of South Korea in the third-placed match.

Earlier, in the women’s 68kg category, Nguyễn Thị Hồng Anh was defeated 0-3 by Abbasali of Iran in the bronze-medal match.

Việt Nam have earned one gold, seven silvers and nine bronzes to rank 17th in the medal tally, behind Cambodia who took two golds and one bronze. – VNS