Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Ha Thi Thuy Hang has won the first gold medal for Vietnam in athletics at the ongoing Asian Beach Games (ABG) in China.
Trailing until the final round of the women's long jump event on April 24 in Sanya City, Hang uncorks an impressive 6.16m leap – a massive moment not just for her but for Vietnam, clinching the country's first gold of the Games.
Across the first four rounds, Hang doesn't reach her best form which seemed patchy. She makes two fouls and two jumps of 5.73m and 5.43m that remain her below par. At this point, Wikramasinha Arachchi of Sri Lanka produces the morning’s best effort of 5.87m, moving into the lead, and a gold looms for her.
The momentum shifts in the fifth round. Hang reclaims the lead with a 5.94m, while the Lankan jumper fouls. Then, in her final attempt, Hang truly find her mark with that 6.16m. Arachchi camp is left dismayed; under the mounting pressure, she succumbs, managing only a 5.79m effort with her final jump.
The 20-year-old jumper was the only one soaring beyond the 6m mark, an excellent performance on a completely different surface in beach conditions.
Arachchi (5.87m) and her teammate ISL Galabadage (5.83m) finished with silver and bronze, respectively.
The Vietnamese dragon boat team take silver in the women's 100m category.
The squad of 13 members come second in a time of 28.516sec, just a hair gap after hosts China who pocket gold medal, clocking 28.260sec. Thailand finish third on 29.631sec
They will have opportunities to take more medal in the 200m and 400m categories on April 25 and 26.
With one gold and one silver, Vietnam currently stand at fourth in the medal tally.
China are on top with four golds, followed by the Philippines with three golds and the UAE with two golds.
The sixth ABG features athletes of 45 countries and regions. They will compete in 14 sports with 62 sets of medals up for grab.
Vietnamese athletes will take part in eight sports of athletics, wrestling, handball, jujitsu, dragon boat, swimming, sailing and teqball./.
VNA
