Vietnamese athletes picked up three gold medals at the third Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, which wrapped up on May 26 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

World and Asian champions Chau Tuyet Van, Nguyen Thi Le Kim and Nguyen Thuy Xuan Linh had no difficulty topping the women's team event.

Building on their success, young artist Ngo Thi Thuy Dung also triumphed in the women's individual category.

Later Van, Kim, Linh and male teammates Thien Phung and Thanh Trung also showed fine form in the mixed team category.

Vietnam's team of 11 also pocketed two silvers and four bronzes on May 25.

Among them, trio Nguyen Thien Phung, Le Hieu Nghia and Tong Nguyen Bao came second in the men's team event.

In the men's individual, Nguyen Truong Phuoc Dai claimed second place, while duo Dung and Trung finished third in the mixed pair category.

Following the tournament, athletes will take part in the 21st Asian Taekwondo Championships at the same venue.

Vietnam's coaches have set a target of winning at least one gold medal in the combat competition.

The Southeast Asian delegation has brought 12 competitors to take part. Key athletes such as Asian bronze medallist Le Huynh Chau (men's 63kg), defending champion Nguyen Trong Cuong (men's 87kg), German Open silver holder Doan Thi Huong Giang (women's 49kg) and SEA Games winner Pham Thi Thu Hien (women's 62kg) are expected to make finals.

The Asian Championships, which will take place from May 25-28, is considered one of Vietnam's most important training milestones in the lead up to the Asian Games in the Republic of Korea this September.-VNA