May 17, 2023
HÀ NỘI — Wrestling was under the spotlight in the last competition day of the 32nd SEA Games which saw Việt Nam on top of the overall medal tally on May 16 in Cambodia.
The Vietnamese wrestlers won four golds through Ngô Văn Lâm in the men’s 92kg, Ngô Thế Sao triumphed in the men’s 70kg, Nguyễn Xuân Định championed in the men’s 65kg and Cấn Tất Dự wrapped up with a gold in the men’s74kg.
“It was my fifth gold in my fifth SEA Games but the winning feeling is still the same. I am happy with the win,” said Dự.
“My rivals get stronger year by year as you know countries have invested heavily in wrestling, an Olympic sport. They created more challenges for me.
“My rivals from Thailand and Indonesia are young and promising. I had to be fast and use my tactics to push them into suitable positions to wrestle them down. Earlier, coaches and I researched each of them to build suitable plan.”
With 13 golds, wrestling was one of two best teams of Viêt Nam’s delegation. The best was finswimming who won 14.
Vietnamese judo team beat Thailand 4-3 to take the mixed team gold. — VNA/VNS Photo
After wrestling, judo completed their campaign with their eighth title in the mixed team combat.
Việt Nam beat Thailand 4-3 in the final to become champions.
Dương Thanh Thanh, 19, was the hero of the match as she brought the victory home after beating Ikumi Odea by an ipon (golden) point.
“My teammates encouraged me a lot. I also asked myself to do everything I could in the last match. I was free of pressure but my rival is strong and experienced. It was great that I could make an ipon and win a gold in my first SEA Games.”
Coach Đào Hồng Quân added: “I was nervous but knew that Thanh was a determined fighter with strong mind. And she did great job.”
Trần Đình Thắng wins gold in the in the men’s over-89kg category.
The weightlifting team added one more gold thanks to Trần Đình Thắng in the men’s over-89kg. He lifted 359kg in total to seal his victory for the first time at the SEA Games.
Earlier, his teammate Nguyễn Quốc Toàn won and set record in the men’s 89kg.
In fencing, Vietnamese athletes beat Singapore 45-37 to win the men’s foil team gold.
Trần Huỳnh Như (right) and Nguyễn Thị Hồng Trâm took gold and silver, respectively in dancesport. — VNA/VNS Photo
In dance sports, Trần Huỳnh Như beat Nguyễn Thị Hồng Trâm in an all-Vietnamese final to take gold.
The traditional boat race team took their third title in the women’s 12 crew 800m.
Other medals came from table tennis, kick boxing and men’s football.
Việt Nam successfully placed in top position with 136 gold, 105 silver and 114 bronze medals.
The next SEA Games will be held in 2025 in Thailand. VNS