Chess master Le Quang Liem in an interview after his winning. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Le Quang Liem has grabbed the eighth gold medal for Vietnam at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Turkmenistan on September 24.
The national No 1 drew the last and seventh match against Adani Pouya of Iran in the men’s individual standard category to take the title.
Liem, No 26 in the world, won 5.5 points from four wins and three draws.
Having the same points but smaller parameter, China’s Lu Shanglei came second, while Krishnan Sasikiran of India was third.
“Pouya played well in this tournament. I knew that to win the gold medal I must defeat or at least tie him in that match. I played carefully and took a little advantage in the middle of the match but could not win it. However, I think I had a good performance here and am satisfied with the result,” said Liem.
Vietnamese female masters failed to enter the top three.
With eight golds, Vietnamese masters achieved the target they had set before leaving for Turkmenistan.
The national No 1 drew the last and seventh match against Adani Pouya of Iran in the men’s individual standard category to take the title.
Liem, No 26 in the world, won 5.5 points from four wins and three draws.
Having the same points but smaller parameter, China’s Lu Shanglei came second, while Krishnan Sasikiran of India was third.
“Pouya played well in this tournament. I knew that to win the gold medal I must defeat or at least tie him in that match. I played carefully and took a little advantage in the middle of the match but could not win it. However, I think I had a good performance here and am satisfied with the result,” said Liem.
Vietnamese female masters failed to enter the top three.
With eight golds, Vietnamese masters achieved the target they had set before leaving for Turkmenistan.
It is Liem’s and Vietnam’s first individual title in a continental tournament.
He and his teammates will continue to compete in the rapid and blitz chess and team event in the next days.
Liem had won the world blitz chess championship in 2013.
[Vietnam win muaythai, kurash golds at AIMAG]
In billiards, Nguyen Quoc Nguyen defeated Cho Jae Ho from the Republic of Korea 40-19 in the final of the men’s 3-cushion carom singles category. It is the ninth gold medal for Vietnam at the Games.
In swimming, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien missed a second title after finishing second in the women’s 200m freestyle event.Vien tried her best but could not beat Sun Meichen of China, who swam in 1 minute and 55.57 seconds, which is a new games record.
Vien came second, clocking 1:56.06. Ho Nam Wai of Hong Kong was third, clocking 1:58.03.
Twenty minutes later, Vien took part in the 100m backstroke final, but she finished fourth.
Vien secured her first title on September 22 in the 200m individual medley and set a record by clocking 2:09.78.
Her teammate Tren Duy Khoi claimed a bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke with a timing of 52.04sec on September 24.
He was behind Jeong Dongwon from the Republic of Korea (51.28sec) and Adil Kaskabay of Kazakhstan (51.55sec).
It was Khoi’s third bronze, after he took the third spot in the 50m backstroke and 200m individual medley.
Speaking with reporters on September 24, chief of the Vietnamese delegation Tran Duc Phan said it was a successful games for Vietnam.
“It was a successful games, in term of the results, because we have achieved our target,” said Phan.
“Olympic sports are organised in AIMAG, but there are a few events that are never organised in Olympics. Competing indoors is also different, so athletes have to try hard to reach their title. Therefore, the gold medals prove the outstanding performance of our athletes,” he said.-VNA
VNA
