Khudyakov Vitaliy of Kazakhastan won the first gold medal at the fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG5) after finishing first in the men’s 10km marathon swimming race in Da Nang yesterday.

Khudyakov Vitaliy from Kazakhastan (centre) won gold medal in the men’s 10km swimming event at the Asian Beach Games in Da Nang yesterday. 

Khudyakov clocked 2hrs 3mins 7secs to win the first gold for his country and the first gold of the fifth annual Asian Beach Games (ABG5).

The 22-year-old also beat Wang Wenhao of China, who placed second in 2hrs 4mins 55secs, and Mohammad Saleh of Syria, who placed third in 2hrs 6mins 20secs. Vietnamese swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang finished fourth in 2hrs 6mins 29secs.

“It was a hard race, but a happy one for me. I faced many tough rivals in the race. It took a lot of energy to win today,” Khudyakov said at the victory podium.

“The weather and competition conditions were quite good today. But I had to battle strong wind, big waves and hot weather.”

In the women’s 5km swimming race earlier yesterday, Sriphanomthorn Benjaporn from Thailand swam in 1hr 5mins 57.6secs to win gold medal for Thailand. She beat two Chinese opponents, Lei Shan, who finished second in 1hr 5mins 59.2secs, and Li Yilin, who placed third with a time of 1hr 6mins 1.9secs.

Two Vietnamese swimmers, Tran Thi Cam Hong and Le Thi My Thao, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Thailand and Kazakhstan tied for first place in the medal tally yesterday with one gold medal each. China followed close behind with two silvers and one bronze medal, while Syria came in third with one bronze medal.

Qualifying rounds of Kabaddi and Muay Thai were played yesterday, while most sports will be played after ABG5 opens this weekend.

The fifth Asian Beach Games will mark the first time the country hosts the Games, a multi-sport Asian-level competition, after hosting the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2009 and the ASEAN-level competition in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games. 

VN bags three bronze medals at Asian Beach Games

Vietnamese Nguyen Ke Nhon and his teammates bagged three bronze medals for VN in Muay Thai in the fifth Asian Beach Games yesterday in Da Nang.

They are the first medals for VN in the games, with major sports beginning after the opening ceremony today.

Nhon, who lost to Sayassatov Yelaman from Kazakhstan in the men’s Flyweight (48-51kg) semi-final yesterday, was awarded the bronze medal.

Luo Chenhao of China also bagged bronze medal in the event after a loss to Thailand’s Phonkrathok Arnon in the semi-final yesterday.

His teammate Le Hoang Duc, who compete in the men’s Light Flyweight (45-48kg) category, also bagged a bronze medal after a loss to Thailand’s Pinthong Phitsanu in the semi-final.

Tran Thi Truc of VN took bronze in the women’s Bantamweight (51-54kg).

The three bronze medals took Việt Nam to fourth in the medal table after Thailand, Kazakhstan and China.

In other matches yesterday, Bui Yen Ly of VN booked a spot in the final of the women’s flyweight (48-51kg) after beating Pan Ting Wai of Chinese Taipei in the semi-final.

Truong Quoc Hung beat Rovshanov Muhammetberdi of Turkmenistan in the men’s Light Middleweight (67-71kg) quarter-final. 

VNS