To date, the disabled Vietnamese sport delegation attending the ongoing 2016 Rio Paralympics has won four medals in total, including one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

Vietnamese athletes have won medals at all three events they have competed in at Rio Paralympics.

On the morning of September 13 (Vietnam time), swimmer Vo Thanh Tung entered the final of the men’s 50m freestyle–S5. 

Tung performed well, finishing second with 33.94 seconds and winning the silver medal.

Also the same day, Cao Ngoc Hung won an additional bronze medal for Vietnam after finishing third in the men’s javelin throw–F57 with a distance of 43.27 metres in his third attempt.

 This was the first medal for Vietnam’s disabled sport team, which is making its fifth appearance at the Games.

Earlier, powerlifter Dang Thi Linh Phuong also earned Vietnam another bronze medal when lifting 102kg in the women’s 50kg weight class, after her teammate Le Van Cong secured the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Paralympics. 

Cong also set a new world record of 183kg in the men’s 49kg category.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien hailed the success by Vietnamese Paralympians at the Games as outstanding special achievements. 

The ministers also decided to grant hot rewards to athletes and coaches to recognise and encourage their efforts to bring glory to the motherland.

Accordingly, Minister Thien decided to award Cong, on par with Olympic gold medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh, VND 60 million. Cong’s coach was also awarded VND 20 million. 

Linh Phuong was granted VND 20 million and her coach VND 10 million. Swimmer Tung was awarded VND 40 million, while his coach was granted VND 15 million. Hung and his coach enjoyed bonuses of VND 20 million and VND 10 million, respectively.

Vietnam’s sport delegation took part in the 2016 Olympics with eleven athletes competing in three disciplines: weightlifting, swimming and athletics.

According to the Vietnam Sports Association for People with Disabilities, it did not set a medal target for the athletes prior to their sendoff, but encouraged them to strive to do their best. However, Vietnam’s Paralympians played brilliantly, far exceeding expectations.

Currently, Vietnam is provisionally ranked 38th in the medal tally with one gold, one silver and two bronzes.

Nhan Dan