VietNamNet Bridge – Sixteen-year-old Truong Thi Phuong has won a historic gold medal for Vietnam at the ongoing 2015 Asian Canoeing Championships taking place in Indonesia from November 4-8.

Truong Thi Phuong (first line, centre) claimed the first continental gold medal for Vietnam canoeing, finishing first in the female C1 500m at the ongoing 2015 Asian Canoeing Championships, which took place in Indonesia from November 4-8.

Phuong also earned an unprecedented gold medal for the Vietnamese canoeing team at the SEA Games 28 in Singapore last June. After the securing the first gold medal, the young athlete, of San Diu ethnicity, continues to make history in Vietnamese sports.

This year’s Asian championships, also acting as the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers, gathered 500 athletes from 27 countries.

The Vietnamese canoeing team consists of five athletes competing in nine categories. Phuong joined finals of female C1 500m and brought home a gold medal, the first continental gold medal in the history of Vietnamese canoeing.

Along with the achievement, the Vinh Phuc native also set a record as the youngest athlete of the tournament to be awarded with a gold medal.

C1 500m will compete at Asiad Indonesia 2018 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but unfortunately missed out on securing a place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

In addition to C1 500m, Phuong also has the opportunity to compete for gold in her forte C1 200m.    

Nhan Dan