VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Thi Phuong Giang won Viet Nam's second gold medal yesterday (Dec 8) at the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar.

Golden moment: Hoang Thi Phuong Giang poses with her gold medal after winning the women's changquan event.

The wushu martial artist won her title in the women's changquan event, scoring 9.68 points.

Giang, 21, was selected for the team following her silver medal performance at the world championships in Malaysia in October.

Giang earned a perfect score in her strongest taolu (performance) category, leaving behind Yan Ni Tan of Singapore, who earned 9.60 points, and Thailia Lovita from Indonesia, with 9.59 points.

"I am really happy with my first-ever SEA Games gold medal. I am good in changquan, but I dared not think about victory before stepping onto the competition mat. I am really surprised about myself and this success," said Giang, commenting about her triumph after not winning during two earlier Games.

After nine years training in wushu, Giang has won more than 40 titles, but she said all of those can not compare with the gold medal she has now won at the SEA Games.

Also in this category, Duong Thuy Vi of Viet Nam came in fifth place.

However, on Saturday Vi won the first gold medal for her team in the women's jianshu competition.

In her third Games, world silver medallist Vi score 9.70 points to win.

Vi was the last Vietnamese athlete competing for the day, after teammates failed to come in first in their events.

She was under great pressure and performed better than expected.

"I was really worried and felt the pressure on my shoulders. My coaches encouraged me a lot, asking me to be free, like when I am training at home. It was an honour that I have brought home the first gold for Viet Nam at these Games," said Vi.

Flying start: Duong Thuy Vi of Viet Nam during her gold-winning performance at the Myanmar SEA Games.

Earlier, Tran Xuan Hiep came in third in the men's changquan, and Bui Minh Phuong stood second in the women's nanquan event.

Wushu competitions will continue until tomorrow and, according to coach Nguyen Van Chuong, the team is expecting to win two more gold medals.

Yesterday afternoon also saw competitions in sanshou (combat) events. Nguyen Thi Chinh is the first Vietnamese to earn a final match berth, after beating Friska Ria Wibowo of Indonesia 2-0 in the women's 48kg class.

Nguyen Hoai Thu followed, after winning 2-0 over Myanmar's Su Hlaing Oo in the women's 52kg pool.

Earlier, their male teammates, To Van Bau and Hoang Van Cao, won bronze medals in the 48kg and 56kg, after losing in the semi-final rounds.

Viet Nam rank fifth with two gold medals, one silver and three bronze.

Host Myanmar currently lead the medal tally with eight gold medals, two silver and three bronze. Malaysia and Thailand are second and third, respectively.

Source: VNS