Vietnamese girls win 2 gold medals to make history at Asian athletic tournament

By Xuan Binh October 15, 2022 | 02:28 am PT

Nguyen Khanh Linh in the girls' 1,500m run at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Kuwait, October 13, 2022. Photo courtesy of Linh's Facebook page

Vietnam has won two gold medals at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Kuwait, marking its best performance ever at the tournament.

Nguyen Khanh Linh, 16, won a gold medal on the opening day Thursday by finishing the girls' 1,500 m in 4:51:61 minutes, surpassing Thailand's Piyapat Pongsapan, the only other competitor in the final.

Hoang Thi Anh Thuc, 17, won gold medal on the second day in the girls' 400m. She finished in 55:03 seconds to beat two Indian opponents.

Vietnam also won a bronze medal in girls' high jump, thanks to Bui Thi Kim Anh's performance.

In its three previous times participating in the tournament, which is held every two years from 2015, Vietnam only won one gold medal in 2017.

The 2022 edition, which was delayed from last year due to Covid, is being held from October 13 to 16, attracting nearly 400 athletes from 30 countries and territories.