Powerlifter Cong defends title at Para Games

Coming to the Surakarta event, Cong was confident to top the podium as he has not had worthy rival in the men's 49kg category.

Cong registered to lift 160kg in his first attempt, which was highest weight among participants.

He just began his competition when all athletes completed. Hadi Abdul of Indonesia lifted best with 150kg and Laophakdee Pia of Laos followed with 117kg.

Cong met no problem with the 160kg, before bettering the mark twice with his subsequent lifts of 165kg and 170kg and won.

"I am really happy with the sixth Para Games gold," Cong told VGP.

"It is pity that my injury prevents me from setting a new record that I always did in previous Games. In this competition, I only focus on winning a gold, setting record is not a priority because it would make my injury more serious," said the 38-year-old athlete.

Cong is the Games record holder with a lift of 181kg in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. He also holds Paralympic record of 183kg and world height of 183.5kg.

Another Vietnamese powerlifter winning on August 2 was Nguyen Binh An in the men's 54kg class.

He defended his No 1 place with a lift of 168kg. In an attempt to set a new record of 182kg in the second lift, a barbell slipped and landed on his shoulder. He was sent to hospital where doctors said he was alright but further tests would be made to ensure his conditions.

His result of 168kg was enough for him to win a gold.

His teammate Huynh Ngoc Phung came second with a 140kg lift and Filipino Romeo Tayawa third on 117kg.

At the same time in the Jatidiri Swimming Center, Vietnamese swimmers won five gold medals.

Danh Hoa triumphed twice in the men's 200m S4 freestyle with a time of 4min 11.12sec and 50m SB3 breaststroke events.

Do Thanh Hai left all other rivals behind in the men's 50m SB5 breaststroke, timing 42.40sec.

Nguyen Hoang Nha contributed Viet Nam his gold in the men's 100m S7 backstroke, clocking 1:19.01.

Vo Huynh Anh Khoa added his second gold to his bag after winning the men's 100m S8 backstroke with a time of 1:16.08. On August 1, he won in the S8 400m freestyle event.

Meanwhile at Manahan Stadium, track-and-field athletes secured five golds.

Tran Van Nguyen came first in the men's F40 javelin with a throw of 31.64m.

Later Tran Thi Tu won the women's F54 discus throw (13.77m). Vo Van Tung made a double in the men's F34 shot put (7.61m) and discus throw (25.67m).

Trinh Cong Luan successfully defended his men's F56 discus throw (29.14m).

In chess competitions, Vietnamese masters dominated in four categories.

Tran Thi Bich Thuy won in the women's PI individual standard chess. It was a huge progress for the 42-year-old athlete who secured a bronze in the previous Games five years ago.

Nguyen Thi Hong topped the women's B2-B3 individual standard chess event.

Hong and two teammates Nguyen Thi Minh Thu and Nguyen Thi My Linh also managed the women's B2-B3 team standard chess event.

Meanwhile Thuy, Doan Thu Huyen and Nguyen Thi Kieu bagged the women's PI team standard chess title.

Judo martial artists made up an excellent debut at the regional sport meet on August 2.

Nguyen Viet Tu secured a silver in the men's J2 60kg category while Tran Viet Hung claim another silver in the men's J1 73kg pool.

With 28 gold medals after three days, Viet Nam currently are in top three along with Thailand and host Indonesia./.

Thanh Ha