Việt Nam's leading female martial artist Trương Thị Kim Tuyền (left). Photo sggp.org.vn

HÀ NỘI Vietnamese martial artists have won 35 gold medals after three days of competition at the 2nd Asian Open Taekwondo Championship held at the Military Region 7 competition hall in HCM City on Saturday, the final day of competition.

Việt Nam’s players competed in the combat and performance categories.

Besides gold medals, Việt Nam also won 30 silvers and 28 bronzes.

Among the gold medallists, Trương Thị Kim Tuyền, Việt Nam's leading female martial artist, secured a gold medal in the under-49kg event.

In the first round, Tuyền enjoyed a strong start as she beat her Chinese rival Zou Ju, earning three points. The 22-year-old maintained her good form with a second-round victory. However, in the next round, her Chinese opponent turned the tables by scoring three points. Tuyền immediately hit back by adding a point before using defensive tactics in the last minutes and winning the match 4-3.

The event attracted more than 400 athletes from 25 countries and territories, including taekwondo powerhouses such as South Korea, Japan and Iran.
This year’s event is of significance to athletes from Southeast Asia, including Việt Nam, who are preparing for the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. VNS