Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese women's team seni (artistic) onMay 11 brought home the first gold medal in pencak silat at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAGames 31).
Vuong Thi Binh, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and Nguyen Thi Huyengained 9.996 points to overcome their Brunei rivals.
Ha and Huyen also clinched a silver in the women's double ofseni while Riska Hermawan and Ririn Rinasih of Indonesia bagged gold.
Speaking to reporters, Ha said she has been waiting for a goldmedal for 14 years and this is her best achievement at a SEA Games, especially the one hosted by Vietnam.
Vietnam secured one gold, one silver and three bronzes insix seni category at this SEA Games.
Ten events of pencak silat’s tanding (match) are slated forMay 13 in Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem Gymnasium.
SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, is beingheld in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities until May 23.
Featuring 40 sports with 523 events, it is expected toattract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated forlate 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic./.