Swimmer Nguyen Thanh Trung secured the first gold medal for Vietnam at the 3^rd Asian Para Games in Indonesia (INAPG 2018) after taking lead at the men’s 100m breaststroke event for athletes with disability category of SB4 on October 7.

Swimmer Nguyen Thanh Trung secures the first gold medal for Vietnam at the 3^rd Asian Para Games in Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)

“Coming to Indonesia for this tournament, I didn’t think of winning a gold medal but only how to make my best efforts,” said Trung.

“I am very happy to win the first gold medal for the Vietnamese team and hopefully this will motivate the entire team to earn more medals in the following days,” he added.

Later the same day, Vi Thi Hang also grabbed a bronze medal for the country, finishing third at the women’s 50m freestyle event for the S7 category.

Vu The Phiet, head of Vietnam’s INAPG 2018 team, said Trung’s success was expected by the team leaders as before this competition, his results were better than the world’s records and even those made by himself at the Asian Para Games 2014.

It is also very encouraging when young swimmer Hang, who takes part in the games for the first time, has achieved such a good result, he noted.

The Asian Para Games, which follows the Asian Games (ASIAD) every four years, attracts athletes from 45 countries and territories in Asia this year.

The Vietnamese team comprises 75 members, including 52 athletes who will compete in seven out of 18 sports, namely swimming, track and field, weightlifting, chess, badminton, table tennis and judo.

At the previous Asian Para Games in 2014, Vietnam won nine gold, seven silver, and 13 bronze medals, finishing 10th in the overall medal tally./.

VNF/VNA