VietNamNet Bridge – Le Quang Liem grabbed the eighth gold medal for Viet Nam at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Turkmenistan yesterday.

Nguyen Quoc Nguyen competes in the final of the men’s 3-cushion carom.

The national No 1 drew the last and seventh match against Adani Pouya of Iran in the men’s individual standard category to take the title.

Liem, No 26 in the world, won 5.5 points from four wins and three draws.

Having the same points but smaller parameter, China’s Lu Shanglei came second, while Krishnan Sasikiran of India was third.

“Pouya played well in this tournament. I knew that to win the gold medal I must defeat or at least tie him in that match. I played carefully and took a little advantage in the middle of the match but could not win it. However, I think I had a good performance here and am satisfied with the result,” said Liem.

Vietnamese female masters failed to enter the top three.

With eight golds, Vietnamese masters achieved the target they had set before leaving for Turkmenistan.

It is Liem’s and Viet Nam’s first individual title in a continental tournament.

He and his teammates will continue to compete in the rapid and blitz chess and team event in the next days.

Liem had won the world blitz chess championship in 2013.

In billiards, Nguyen Quoc Nguyen defeated Cho Jae Ho of South Korea 40-19 in the final of the men’s 3-cushion carom singles category. It is the ninth gold medal for Viet Nam at the Games.

In swimming, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien missed a second title after finishing second in the women’s 200m freestyle event.

Vien tried her best but could not beat Sun Meichen of China, who swam in 1 minute and 55.57 seconds, which is a new games record.

Vien came second, clocking 1:56.06. Ho Nam Wai of Hong Kong was third, clocking 1:58.03.

Twenty minutes later, Vien took part in the 100m backstroke final, but she finished fourth.

Vien secured her first title on Friday in the 200m individual medley and set a record by clocking 2:09.78.

Her teammate Tran Duy Khoi claimed a bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke with a timing of 52.04sec yesterday.

He was behind Jeong Dongwon of South Korea (51.28sec) and Adil Kaskabay of Kazakhstan (51.55sec).

It was Khoi’s third bronze, after he took the third spot in the 50m backstroke and 200m individual medley.

Chess master Le Quang Liem in an interview after his winning. — Photos courtesy Huu Binh

Speaking with reporters yesterday, chief of mission Tran Duc Phan said it was a successful games for Viet Nam.

“It was a successful games, in term of the results, because we have achieved our target,” said Phan.

“Olympic sports are organised in AIMAG, but there are a few events that are never organised in Olympics. Competing indoors is also different, so athletes have to try hard to reach their title. Therefore, the gold medals prove the outstanding performance of our athletes,” he said. 

VNS