Vietnamese wushu team makes strong start in taolu competitions
The Vietnamese wushu team has an excellent start in the taolu (performance) yesterday, successfully winning three of five events in a busy first official day at the 31st SEA Games.
The three gold medalists were Dương Thúy Vi, Phạm Quốc Khánh and Hoàng Phương Giang. All are familiar faces at the regional sport meet.
Two-time world champion Vi took gold in the women’s jianshu (straight sword) with 9.7 points.
Vi is one of the best wushu artists of Việt Nam and has won titles in all competition levels.
This is the fifth SEA Games gold medal for the Hanoian athlete who will later take part in the qiangshu event. Vi’s gold was the country's 12th at the Games.
Indonesian Nandhira Mauriskha was second with 9.67 points. Đặng Tiểu
Bình of Việt Nam took bronze with 9.66.
Earlier, Phạm Quốc Khánh, 31, secured the country's 11th gold in the men’s nandao (Southern broadsword).
The veteran athlete who has competed in eight SEA Games in a row passed seven younger rivals with 9.7 points.
He made a big jump from a thirdplace finish three years ago in the Philippines Games to the top place this year.
The former world champion will soon defend his title in the nanquan (southern boxing style) event.
Malaysian Lee Wai Leong Calvin grabbed silver with 9.68 points.
Another Vietnamese Nông Văn Hữu placed third after receiving 9.67 points.
The third gold for Việt Nam in the wushu was in the women’s gunshu (Northern cudgel).
Her beautiful performance forced judges to give her the highest score of 9.71 points.
Coming second and third were Indonesian Widodo Eugenia Diva with 9.70 points and Singapore's Li Ling Kimberly Ong on 9.69 points.
In the men’s changquan (long fist) Malaysian Su Wei Clement Ting and Singaporean Lim Jowen Si Wei shared the top place after they were given 9.7 points. Indonesia Seral Naro Siregar came next with 9.69. Việt Nam had no representative in this discipline.
In the men’s taijiquan, Vietnamese Nguyễn Văn Phương suffered an injury during his performance and was ousted from the event.
Malaysian Tan Zhi Yan won the title with 9.71 points.
Philippines’ Inso Jones Llabres took silver with 9.70 points, followed by Singaporean Jun Kai Chan 9.57 points.vns