Vietnam won five gold, six silver and nineteen bronze medals, ranking second at the Ho Chi Minh City International Judo Championships 2009, which wrapped up on July 5.

Huynh Nhat Thong, Ho Ngan Giang and Dang Hao bagged the gold medals in the men’s 55kg, 60kg and 100kg categories, while Van Thi Kim Thoa and Dang Le Bich Van took the golds in the women’s 52kg and 45kg events, respectively.

Although Japan had sent a young team, comprising university students and provincial athletes, the country successfully led the tournament with seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

The Republic of Korea came in third, securing a total of two gold, four silver and eight bronze medals in both men’s and women’s events.

The tournament, the 18th of its kind so far, drew 170 athletes from Japan, the Republic of Korea, France, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Hong Kong and Vietnam .

It was a warm-up event for judo artists from regional countries to prepare for the first Asian Martial Art Games in Thailand and the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25) in Laos later this year./.