Vietnamese athletes with disabilities made an impressive start at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on January 21, securing a total of eight gold medals on the opening day of official competition.

Vietnamese lifter Le Van Cong.

Veteran swimmer Vo Huynh Anh Khoa once again affirmed his role, delivering the first gold medal for Vietnam in the men’s 400m freestyle (S8 category). He clocked 5 minutes 26.16 seconds to successfully defend his title.

Vietnam dominated the sport, sweeping all three podium places, with Han Quang Thoai and Dang Van Cong claiming silver and bronze, respectively. Anh Khoa’s victory set a positive tone for a highly successful day for the swimming team, which secured seven of Vietnam’s gold medals.

Vietnamese swimmers continued to shine as Nguyen Van Hanh won gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke (SB11), Trinh Thi Bich Nhu topped the women’s 100m breaststroke (SB4–5), and Le Thi Dung triumphed in the women’s 100m freestyle (S8).

Notably, swimmer Vi Thi Hang made a strong impression by claiming two gold medals, including a record-breaking performance in the women’s 50m backstroke (S6–S7). She finished in 45.63 seconds, significantly improving on the previous Games record of 49.63 seconds.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s powerlifting team also contributed to the gold medal tally. Experienced lifter Le Van Cong emerged victorious in the men’s 49kg category, lifting a total of 178kg to overcome strong competition from Indonesian rivals.

By the end of the competition day, Vietnam had collected eight gold, five silver and six bronze medals, temporarily ranking third on the medal table behind host Thailand and Indonesia.

The strong opening performance exceeded expectations and highlighted the determination and resilience of Vietnamese athletes at the regional sporting event.

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