Long-distance runner Nguyen Van Lai displayed strength, endurance and resilience to take the gold in the men’s 5,000-metre event, smashing a long-standing record.

On the afternoon of Day 4 at the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, Lai surged ahead to the finish line at 14:04.82, destroying the 22-year-old record of 14: 08.97 set by Ramachandran Murusamy of Malaysia in 1993.

Prayogo Agus of Indonesia took silver with 14:15.14 and the bronze medal went to Namkhet Sanchai of Thailand.

Vietnam has already secured three gold medals in gymnastics and billiards and snooker.

Star gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh lived up to expectations by claiming gold in the women’s vault event after earning 13.983 points. This is Thanh’s second gold medal after her first in the women’s individual all-around event the previous day.

Tan Ing Yueh of Malaysia came in second with 13.466 points and the bronze went to Abdul Hadi Farah, another Malaysian athlete, with 13.316 points.

The second gymnastics gold medal came from Dang Nam in the men’s rings, scoring 15.300 points.

Pham Phuong Hung took the silver medal in the men’s rings, his second in gymnastics, with 14.033 and Chokpaoumpai Weena of Thailand earning the bronze.

Hung and Le Thanh Tung won bronzes in the men’s floor exercise and pommel horse events, respectively.

The last gold medal was carried off by Tran Phi Hung in the men’s 1 cushion carom event. Hung beat his fellowman Ma Minh Cam 100-92 in the final.-VNA