Big kicker: Kata queen Nguyen Hoang Ngan marked her return to the SEA Games with a gold medal.

NAY PYI TAW (VNS)— Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan set two records yesterday at the 27th Southeast Asian in Myanmar.

The Vietnamese lifted 129kg in his first attempt in the snatch of the men's 56kg category, which was a new SEA Games' record.

In the jerk-and-clean lift, the 19-year-old hoisted 156kg. A total lift of 285kg is 5kg more than what his teammate, Nguyen Quoc Toan, lifted to win a gold medal two years ago. Tuan not only successfully defended the title for Viet Nam, but also won his second record in Yangon City. This year, Toan did not compete because of an injury.

This would be Tuan's big jump, as a world bronze medallist, in the regional tournament, since two years ago he won a bronze medal with a total lift of 271kg.

J.Seteadi of Indonesia came in second with 261kg, while Pyae Phyo of Myanmar stood third at 246kg.

Later, Le Quang Trung, in the men's 62kg, won a silver medal while Do Thi Thu Hoai grabbed a bronze medal in the women's 48kg.

Crying queen

Uplifting: Thach Kim Tuan of Viet Nam set two records and won a gold medal in the men's 56kg class. — VNA/VNS Photos

In karate, former world champion Nguyen Hong Ngan marked her SEA Games' return with a gold medal in the women's kata (performance) event.

Ngan, who has recovered from injuries to both two knees which prevented her from competing in the 26th Games two years ago, defeated Indonesian rival Syafrudin Yulianti 5-0 in the final match.

The Hanoian, who was given the nickname of kata queen, burst into tears after hearing the final results, confirming that it was one of the most meaningful medals she has received in her career.

"I, myself, and my doctors had to work hard for one year and it is lucky that I am okay before the Games," said Ngan, who returned home from Japan where she pursued academic study and training in Karate.

During the tournament, Ngan worried that the injuries could re-occur anytime and affect her performance. She explained that she was so moved by the victory that she cried.

"It is my first and the most invaluable title in three years. When I learned the results I cried when remembering my difficult times with injuries and when I was in Japan having surgeries without any family members and friends next to me," she said.

"Now I am happy because I took a gold for Viet Nam and I have returned to what I used to be," said Ngan, who only needs a title from the Asian Games to complete her global competition gold collection.

She later won a silver medal, when grouped with two teammates, Do Thi Thu Ha and Nguyen Thanh Hang, in the women's team event.

In kumite (combat), the karate squad also had their first victory after Lang Thi Hoa triumphed in the women's 68kg class, defeating Pertiwi Wiwi from Indonesia 8-0 in the final match.

Karate will continue today with different weight categories, in which Viet Nam hopes to win at least two more titles.

Wrestlers finished their SEA Games with great success, winning two more gold medals yesterday.

Can Tat Du needed only 62 seconds to beat Thai rival Tadsapol Pasawang 7-0 in the men's 74kg freestyle pool.

His female teammate, Vu Thi Hang, won even faster, as she trounced Sriprapa Tho Kaew of Thailand 7-0 in the 48kg freestyle.

Both of them were judged the winners due to their superiority.

Their titles were the ninth and 10th for the 12-member wrestling squad, which targeted eight gold medals before the SEA Games. Two other earned bronze medals.

Also, the shooting team pocketed their second gold medal in the men's team 50m pistol competition. Hoang Xuan Vinh, Tran Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Hong Phuong topped the event with 1,649 points, leaving Singapore and Malaysia far behind.

Swimming was the final event of the day, which saw Viet Nam's win three silver medals.

Teenager Nguyen Thi Anh Vien added a silver medal in the women's 400m freestyle. It was her third medal in three events.

Earlier, 17-year-old Tran Duy Khoi came in second in the men's 200m individual medley.

The third medal went to Hoang Quy Phuoc, who could not defend his title in the men's 100m freestyle.

In futsal news, the Vietnamese men's team defeated Laos 10-1 yesterday. They will next meet Asian champions Thailand.

In badminton news, tournament champion Nguyen Tien Minh of Viet Nam unexpectedly lost 21-13, 12-21, 20-22 to Rumbaka Dionysius Hayom from Indonesia in the men's singles event.

Minh, who needed only one point when he was leading 20-16 in the third set, let his rival overcome him to win six points in a row and steal a berth in the final match.

"I am sad and disappointed because I have well prepared for this event and I had chance to be in my first final," said Minh. "I do not know why I lost, I want to say sorry to my fans and ask them to sympathise with me," Minh said with tears in his eyes. "I do not know if I can play in the next Games, as I am already 32 years old."

Earlier in the morning, there were bronze medals won during cycling, petanque and canoeing competitions.

Two days after the opening ceremony, Viet Nam has earned 22 gold medals to stay firmly in second place. Host Myanmar remains ahead with 26 gold medals and Indonesia is close behind the two leaders with 21 gold medals. — VNS