HA NOI (VNS) — Nguyen Thi Chinh and Nguyen Thu Hoai added two gold medals to Viet Nam's SEA Games tally yesterday in Myanmar.

Chinh defeated Filipino Divine Wally 1-0 in the women's 48kg category in wushu's sanshou (combat). While Thu won 2-0 over Evita Elise Zamora, also from the Philippines, in the women's 52kg class.

"We have performed better than expected. We won four golds in total, compared to a target of 2-3 sets before departing," said Le Minh Ha, head of the wushu team.

Earlier, two gold medals went to Duong Thuy Vi and Hoang Thi Phuong Giang in taolu (performance) events.

Yesterday also saw two silver and one bronze medals won by the taolu artists.

In the men's nandao event, Nguyen Quoc Khanh came in third with 9.67 points, ranking behind athletes from Wai Phyo Aung of Myanmar (9.69) and Mun Hua Ho of Malaysia (9.68).

Earlier, Nguyen Manh Quyen took second place in the men's daoshu event and Vi pocketed her second medal, a silver, in the women's quiangshu pool.

"The results of the team are what we planned at home, because all gold medallists are those who competed perfectly at the recent World Games and world championships," Ha said.

Kicker: Vietnamese Nguyen Thu Hoai (left) takes a wushu's sanshou gold medal after beating Filipino Evita Elise Zamora in the final of the women's 52kg category at the ongoing 27th SEA Games in Myanmar. — VNS Photo Quang Nhut

Ha said, during the last day of taolu event today, that the team is expected to win in the men's nangun and women's duilian.

Successful wrestlers

Doi Dang Tien won the first gold medal for the wrestling squad after winning 7-0 over Kritsada of Thailand in the men's 55kg Greco-Roman event's third match held in Yangon City.

Earlier, Tien, 22, defeated Margitto Argana of the Philippines, a former champion, in a 7-4 victory. Argana was the winner of the event at the two past Games.

"It is really difficult to talk about my feelings at my first SEA Games participation. I am proud and happy," said Tien, who lost during two previous Games.

"I was nervous when facing the champion in the first match, but I thought that nothing was impossible. I paid attention to the match and only thought of the competition, and then I won," said Tien, whose later games were much easier.

Following him, Tran Van Tuong won his gold medal in the men's 66kg Greco-Roman.

Tuong trounced Lao athlete Khemthong 5-0 in the final match.

Yesterday's third wrestler for Viet Nam, Pham Sy Thu, beat Noelnorada of the Philippines in the men's 60kg Greco-Roman repechase round and took a bronze medal.

Viet Nam has won six gold medals and jumped to second place in the ranking table. Host Myanmar remains strongly on top with 11 gold medals.

Today, athletes will continue their competitions with all eyes on Nay Pyi Taw where men's football matches of Group B will be played. Viet Nam will play Singapore, while Laos faces Brunei in the afternoon.

In the morning, Viet Nam's Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister, Hoang Anh Tuan, and Vietnamese athletes will take part in the flag raising ceremony at the Athletes Village in Nay Pyi Taw. — VNS