Chess master Le Quang Liem in an interview after his winning. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Le Quang Liem has grabbed the eighth goldmedal for Vietnam at the Asian Indoor and Martial ArtsGames (AIMAG) in Turkmenistan on September 24.
The national No 1 drew thelast and seventh match against Adani Pouya of Iran in themen’s individual standard category to take the title.
Liem, No 26 in theworld, won 5.5 points from four wins and three draws.
Having the same points butsmaller parameter, China’s Lu Shanglei came second, while KrishnanSasikiran of India was third.
“Pouya played well in thistournament. I knew that to win the gold medal I must defeat or at least tie himin that match. I played carefully and took a little advantage in the middle ofthe match but could not win it. However, I think I had a goodperformance here and am satisfied with the result,” said Liem.
Vietnamese female mastersfailed to enter the top three.
With eight golds, Vietnamese mastersachieved the target they had set before leaving forTurkmenistan.
The national No 1 drew thelast and seventh match against Adani Pouya of Iran in themen’s individual standard category to take the title.
Liem, No 26 in theworld, won 5.5 points from four wins and three draws.
Having the same points butsmaller parameter, China’s Lu Shanglei came second, while KrishnanSasikiran of India was third.
“Pouya played well in thistournament. I knew that to win the gold medal I must defeat or at least tie himin that match. I played carefully and took a little advantage in the middle ofthe match but could not win it. However, I think I had a goodperformance here and am satisfied with the result,” said Liem.
Vietnamese female mastersfailed to enter the top three.
With eight golds, Vietnamese mastersachieved the target they had set before leaving forTurkmenistan.
It is Liem’s and Vietnam’sfirst individual title in a continental tournament.
He and his teammates willcontinue to compete in the rapid and blitz chess and team eventin the next days.
Liem had won theworld blitz chess championship in 2013.
[Vietnam win muaythai, kurash golds at AIMAG]
In billiards, Nguyen QuocNguyen defeated Cho Jae Ho from the Republic of Korea 40-19 in the final of themen’s 3-cushion carom singles category. It is the ninth gold medal for Vietnamat the Games.
In swimming, Nguyen Thi AnhVien missed a second title after finishing second in the women’s 200mfreestyle event.Vien tried her best butcould not beat Sun Meichen of China, who swam in 1 minuteand 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 minuteslater, Vien took part in the 100m backstroke final, but she finishedfourth.
Vien secured her firsttitle on September 22 in the 200m individual medley and set a record byclocking 2:09.78.
Her teammate Tren Duy Khoiclaimed a bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke with a timing of52.04sec on September 24.
He was behind Jeong Dongwonfrom the Republic of Korea (51.28sec) and Adil Kaskabay of Kazakhstan(51.55sec).
It was Khoi’s thirdbronze, after he took the third spot in the 50m backstroke and200m individual medley.
Speaking with reporters onSeptember 24, chief of the Vietnamese delegation Tran Duc Phan said it was a successful gamesfor Vietnam.
“It was asuccessful games, in term of the results, because wehave achieved our target,” said Phan.
“Olympic sports areorganised in AIMAG, but there are a few eventsthat are never organised in Olympics. Competing indoors is alsodifferent, so athletes have to try hard to reach their title.Therefore, the gold medals prove the outstanding performance ofour athletes,” he said.-VNA
VNA
