Hằng sets record, Khoa wins Việt Nam’s first Para Games gold
Other Vietnamese athletes winning medals on June 4 were Nguyễn Ngọc Thúy in the women's shot put F54 and swimmer Đỗ Thanh Hải in the men's 400m freestyle S6.
HÀ NỘI — Võ Huỳnh Anh Khoa won the first gold medal for Việt Nam while Vi Thị Hằng also finished first, setting a new record at the 12th ASEAN Para Games during the second day of competition on June 4 in Phnom Penh.
Khoa finished first in the men's 400m freestyle S8 event with a time of 5min 20.94sec.
Rusdianto Rusmadi Rusmadi of Indonesia came second, followed by Đặng Văn Công of Việt Nam.
Khoa also won the first gold in this event for Việt Nam at the previous Games in Indonesia. He still has chances to top the podium in five other events in the coming days.
Minutes after his victory, Hằng finished first in the women's 400m freestyle S7 category. Her time of 6:57.95 was a new Games record, which was nearly 2min better than the old one of 9:34.94.
Hằng also has more events in the next few days.
Other Vietnamese athletes winning medals on June 4 were Nguyễn Ngọc Thúy in the women's shot put F54 and swimmer Đỗ Thanh Hải in the men's 400m freestyle S6.
The 12th Games was officially opened with pomp and pageantry at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on June 3 with the participation of nearly 1,500 athletes from all over the region.
With the theme Sports: Live in Peace, the opening ceremony featured a colourful fireworks display that wowed the 70,000-strong audience and showcased a unique Cambodian performance entitled Khmer Heart.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen made the opening remarks and expressed a warm welcome to all sports delegates and para athletes. He then declared the 12th edition of the APG officially open, signaling the start of the week-long tournament, with 11 participating countries which will last till June 9.
After the countries’ contingents made their way into the stadium, the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) flag was raised and participants took their oaths for the Games.
This auspicious event commenced with the countdown from 12 to 1, followed by the national anthem of Cambodia, the parades of ASEAN Para Games contingents and the APSF flag and anthem, and an oath-taking ceremony for the representatives of the athletes, referees and judges.
The event ended with amazing shows and performances as well as more fireworks displays.
On June 3, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương visited the Vietnamese competitors at the Athlete Village.
Cương asked athletes to keep their good health and fitness for the best performance in their tournaments.
He also wanted them to show good qualities and portray beautiful images of the Vietnamese people to international friends.
Responding to the minister, Việt Nam's Chief-de-mission Nguyễn Hồng Minh promised that all athletes would try their best for the highest results and at the same time be ambassadors to spread Việt Nam's solidarity and friendship to the world.
Việt Nam sends nearly 120 athletes to the Games, competing in eight sports. They are expected to win 55 golds to be in the top four.
