VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese team is temporarily ranked third in the medal tally of the on-going seventh ASEAN Para Games in Myanmar, with 24 golds, 34 silvers, and 28 bronzes.

They had a successful day on January 16, walking away with ten golds, seven silvers and five bronzes.

Le Van Cong matched the existing powerlifting world record to win gold in the men's 49kg event. He lifted 176kg, equalling the world record set by Nigerian Yakubu Adesokan at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting Asian Open Championships in Kuala Lumpur in 2013.

Earlier, Asian defending champion Nguyen Binh An successfully defended his title at the Games in the men's 54kg category, lifting 170kg.

Vietnamese swimmers proved their talent with five gold medals.

Vo Huynh Anh Khoa took his second title in the men's S9 200m freestyle race, leaving his nearest rival 25m behind when he touched the finish line.

Khoa was also the athlete who won Viet Nam its first gold on the first day of competition on January 15, winning the 400m freestyle with a time of 4min 57.65sec, setting a new Games record.

His colleague Dang Van Cong also shone on January 16, taking gold in the men's S8 50m backstroke event.

Pham Thanh Son clinched his title in the men's S9 100m butterfly race and Nguyen Van Hanh won the S7 50m breaststroke event.

In the track-and-field events, Vietnamese athletes won two gold medals and set as many Games records.

Nguyen Thi Thuy set a new Games record in the women's F44 long jump event with a 3.36m leap.

Cao Ngoc Hung threw his discus a distance of 45.87m in the men's F57/58 event, defending his crown and setting a new record Games.

On the first day of the Games, Vietnamese athletes brought home 11 gold medals.

Vietnam sent 125 athletes to the event to compete in six of the 12 sports, setting a goal of finishing in the top four overall.

In the last ASEAN Para Games, held in Indonesia in 2011, Vietnam won 43 gold, 42 silver and 62 bronze medals, ranking fourth overall.

Source: Vietnam Plus