Viet Nam dominate SEA Youth Athletics Championship 2023

The young athletes pocketed 15 gold medals after their outstanding performance in all three days of the Bangkok tournament at the in Pathum Thani Stadium.

In the last day, the team won four golds in running and jumping events.

Quartet Ngo Thi My Duyen, Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, Vu Thi Tra My and Le Thi Tuyet Mai won in the women's 4x400m relay in a time of 3min 48.09sec, leaving behind rivals from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Their time was a new record, beating the old one of 3:49.79 set by Thailand in 2014.

Viet Nam also excelled in the women's 4x100m when Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Nguyen Hong Nhung, Ngo Thi My Duyen and Le Thi Nhu Quynh sprinted to the finish line first, clocking 47.98sec.

Thailand and Singapore were second and third, respectively.

In the women's high jump, Bui Thi Kim Anh won gold with a leap of 1.69m. Her teammate Duong Thi Thao was second with 1.60m.

The last title went to hammer thrower Huynh Thi Ngoc Ly who made a successful 52.29m throw after six attempts.

Other highlighted achievements of the team in the previous days included gold and record of 2:12.99 the women's 800m by Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh; gold and record of 8:59.04 in the men's 3,000m by Nguyen Hoang Thinh; and gold and record of 59.49m in the men's hammer throw by Dinh Thanh Nhan.

With 15 golds, 11 silvers and five bronzes, Viet Nam took the top place in the final medal tally. Thailand and Indonesia were second and third, respectively.

Malaysia were selected the hosts of the tournament from December 7-10, but it was turned down due to a lack of suitable venues. The country will be organising the next edition.

The regional championships served as an invaluable platform for nurturing and discovering future athletic luminaries. These young talents symbolize the future of sport, and will develop into the athletics stars of the 2029 SEA Games, to be hosted in Singapore./.