SEA Games
Aerobic athlete Phan Thế Gia Hiển wins Việt Nam's first gold in the men's individual on May 13 during the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. VNA/VNS Photos
HÀ NỘI — Aerobic athletes got a hat trick of golds while cyclist Nguyễn Thị Thật won a gold medal in the morning session of May 13 during the 32nd SEA Games.
Phan Thế Gia Hiển outclassed all other competitors in the men's aerobic individual. HHis performance was awarded 19.450 points to take the top podium at the National Olympic Complex: Marquee.
Chanokpon Jiumsukjai of Thailand took silver with 18.433 points while Has Sokhon of the hosts earned bronze with 18.100.
Vietnamese Trần Hà Vi tops the women's individual event.
His teammate Trần Hà Vi also had an outstanding performance in the women's aerobic individual to take the second gold of the day.
She earned 18.366 points, leaving behind Thai Chawisa Intakul (17.716 points) and Charmaine Estaras Dolar of the Philippines (17.300 points).
Việt Nam also take gold in the trio competition.
The team completed their title hat trick minutes later.
Hoàng Gia Thanh Bảo, Lê Hoàng Phong and Nguyễn Chế Thanh won the trio event with 19.267 points.
Thailand and Cambodia were second and third, respectively.
Cyclist Nguyễn Thị Thật (in red) finishes first in the women's road race mass star event.
In cycling, Asian champion Nguyễn Thị Thật triumphed in the women's road race mass star event.
She defended her title in a time of 2 hours 48.39min over a distance of 100.4km.
Jutatip Maneenphan of Thailand came second, followed by Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir of Malaysia.
In billiards, Việt Nam will have one gold and one silver in the women's 1-cushion carom after Lê Thị Ngọc Huệ and Phùng Kiện Tường set up an all-Vietnamese final. They will compete in the evening.
In golf Việt Nam are playing against Thailand in the men's team final, expecting their second gold in this sport.
Anis fighters will compete in four finals while finswimmers will take part in eight finals.
Weightlifters will vie for titles in three weight categories while fencers will compete in men's and women's individual epee and foil competitions.
Việt Nam's chief-de-mission Đặng Hà Việt on May 13 organised a press conference to brief about the delegation's achievement at the Cambodian Games.
After seven official days of compeition, Vietnamese athletes secured 71 golds, 69 silvers and 78 bronzes. They team rank top in the medal tally.
Among medals, 28 golds, 31 silvers and 27 bronzes are from Olympics sports.
Athletes set up four Games records.
Swimmer Phạm Thanh Bảo made a double in the men's 100m (1min 1.17sec) and 200m (2:11.45) breaststroke events.
The two other went to finswimmers in the men's 4x200m surface relay (5:50.03) and women's 4x200m surface relay (6:19.69).
The two teams that made Việt Nam history when winning their first-ever gold medals were golf and 3x3 basketball.
Wushu martial artist complete their SEA Games campaign with six gold medals, one more than their target.
Despite the No 1 place in the ranking, some Vietnamese team did not meet their target, winning less golds than expected.
The athletics team earned 12 golds, four less than the target. Swimmers and vovinam fighters missed one each.
Việt points out several reasons including the constant changes of competition schedule, leading to our athletes' poor fitness for the next events.
But the key point was the naturalised players issue. Vietnamese athletes had to compete against naturalised players from sports powerhouse countries who were in higher quality level.
Asked if Việt Nam would 'import' players like other countries in the region, Việt emphasised that Việt Nam said will not accept athletes without Vietnamese origins. If overseas Vietnamese athletes wished to contribute to their homeland, they were welcome.
Currently, there are several overseas Vietnamese players competing in this SEA Games.
They are basketballers Mailee Jones, Trương Thảo Vy and Trương Thảo My; swimmer Jeremie Loic Nino Lương and tennis player Savana Lý Nguyen, whose parents are Vietnamese.
Việt said overseas Vietnamese athletes were an important factor that would push the development of the national sport. VNS
OVietnam