Vietnamese athletes won nine gold medals on the third day of competition at the fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG5) in the central city of Da Nang, helping the host country top the medal tally.


Vietnamese players celebrate scoring at a Sepak Takraw match at the fifth Asian Beach Games.


The first gold medal secured for Vietnam on September 27 were carried off by trio Nguyen Thai Linh, Tran Hong Nhung and Do Thi Nguyen of the Vietnamese Sepak Takraw team after defeating three ladies from Myanmar in the Women’s Trio final.

The trio overpowered Myanmar in the first set with an easy 21-9 win before taking the second set, 25-21, for the gold medal.

Meanwhile in beach shuttlecock, Vietnamese athletes claimed three more golds in the men’s and women’s doubles, and in the mixed doubles event.

Vietnam also bagged two gold medals in the beach athletics.

Bui Thi thu Thao took a 6.2m jump to win gold and beat hear teammate Nguyen Thi Truc Mai, who came in second with a 6.11 jump. 

In the women’s 60m final, Le Tu Chinh finished first in 7.6 seconds to win gold.

In Kurash, Nguyen Thi Huong beat her teammate Nguyen Ngoc Diem Phuong in the women’s under 63kg class, taking gold and silver medals for Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Lan also bagged gold when she beat Tokas Amisha of India in the women’s under 70kg final.

In Pencak Silat, pair Nguyen Thu Ha and Duong Anh Nguyet won the gold medal after defeating their Malaysian rivals (576-567) in the women’s Ganda final.

Vietnam lead the ABG5’s medal table with 18 gold, 17 silver and 23 bronze medals.

Thailand trailed closely behind with 18 golds, 12 silvers and 15 bronzes.

China were in third, bagging six golds, eight silvers and 11 bronzes.-

VNA