VIETNAMESE and Thailand powerlifters continued to flex their muscles on Day 2 of the ASEAN Para Games competition at MITEC on Tuesday (Sept 19).
The Vietnamese picked up two gold medals in the women’s competition through Dang Thi Linh Phuong (50kg) and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan (55kg) in new Games records – taking their overall tally to four gold medals, three silvers and one bronze.
Thi Linh Phuong set a new record in the 50kg event with a lift of 100kg for the gold. Her previous record was 93kg. Her compatriot, Hoang Tuyet Loan, lifted 103kg in only her second attempt to win gold in the 55kg category – 18kg more than second-placed Rani Puji Astuti of Indonesia (85kg) and 23kg more than bronze medallist Wandi Kongmuang of Thailand (80kg).
Indonesia’s Yuliana Lili also came from behind to snatch the 61kg gold medal in a close contest between 2015 gold medallist Hat Motnok of Thailand and silver medallist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy from Vietnam.
After failing to lift 76kg in her first attempt, Yuliana succeeded in her second try by lifting 78kg for a new record. The previous mark was 70kg.
In the men’s 59kg event, Choochat Sukjarern of Thailand won gold with a lift of 162kg – 2kg more than second-placed Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Phuc (160kg). Malaysian Gustin Anak Jenang took bronze (120kg).
In the men’s 65kg category, Narong Kasanun, the 2008 Beijing Paralympics bronze medallist in the 52kg category, snapped up the second gold medal for Thailand when he equalled the Games record of 171kg held by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Xuan.
Nguyen could not do any better than the Thai and settled for silver (170kg) whilst Agustin Podes Kitan of the Philippines clinched the bronze (158kg).
WHAT THEY SAY:
“Winning the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur is a blessing and I am happy that I have set a new record on top of that. I dedicate this victory to my family who has supported me all along.” – YULIANA LILI, Indonesian powerlifter
