SEA Games

Nguyễn Huy Hoàng celebrates with his first SEA Games gold medal. — Photo vov.vn

HÀ NỘI — Swimmer Nguyễn Huy Hoàng set a new record while gymnast Đinh Phương Thành won a double at the 30th Southeast Asian Games yesterday in the Philippines.

Hoàng was favourite in the men's 400m freestyle after posting the fastest time in qualification.

The 19-year-old had a slow start but took the lead on the 100m mark and held off the challenge of defending champion and Games record holder Welson Sim Wee Seng of Malaysia.

Hoàng finished in a time of 3min 49.08sec, setting a new bar for the event.

Seng set his record of 3:50.26 two years ago at the 29th Games in Kuala Lumpur.

He finished second in 3:49.55. Bronze went to Indonesia's Aflah Prawira.

"I am proud to win Việt Nam's first swimming gold at this SEA Game," said Hoàng.

"I tried hard throughout the race and left Seng behind. My two months training in China paid off.

"I hope this success will provide encouragement for my teammates during the rest of the competition. We all need to try our best for Việt Nam," said Hoàng, who has earned a berth to compete at the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Hoàng later secured a silver medal in the men's 4x200m freestyle yesterday.

His female teammate Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên added the second gold for the team in the 200m medley.

Viên, who is the defending champion, led from the start and left her rivals far behind, finishing with a time of 2:15.51.

Azzahra Permatahani of Indonesia was second and Jinjutha Pholjamjumrus was third.

"I always try to complete my targets at every competition," said Viên.

"I have not been in top spot for a long time. I am happy to be here again. My thanks to all my supporters who stuck by me," she said.

Swimmers also pocketed a silver in the men's 100m backstroke through Le Nguyen Paul, another in the men's breaststroke thanks to Phạm Thanh Bảo and a bronze in the women's 200m butterfly from Mỹ Thảo.

In the gymnastics, Thành claimed his golds in the men's parallel bars and horizontal bar.

Thành defended his title in the former after an outstanding performance of 14.800 points.

Carlos Yulo of the hosts finished on 14,600 point to claim second, followed by Lê Thanh Tùng of Việt Nam with 14,233.

Thành's second gold came an hour later, beating stiff competition from Yulo and Sean Yeo Xong of Singapore.

The gymnastics team also pocketed two other bronzes in the women's floor and balance beam events.

In weightlifting, Nguyễn Thị Vân bagged a silver in the women's 71kg and Phạm Tuấn Anh also took a silver in the men's 73kg event. The weightlifting team have ended their journey at this SEA Games with four golds, five silvers and one bronze.

Today, the women's football team will face the Philippines in the semi-finals, while the men will meet archrivals Thailand in their last group game.

Coach Mai Đức Chung of the women's team said his players had five days to recharge and prepare for the match.

"I respect the hosts who have shown big progress recently. After five days of rest my team are excited and ready for the semis. The only worry is the typhoon which forced us to train indoors," said Chung.

"Anyway, we will compete well and get a good result tomorrow."

On the men's side, Việt Nam will play without their captain Nguyễn Quang Hải who has a thigh injury. 

They will need a draw to advance to the knock-out stages. The match will aired live on VTV6 from 3pm. — VNS

Đinh Phương Thành performs on the parallel bars. Photo sggp.org.vn