JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

​Female archer clinches Vietnam’s first 2017 SEA Games medal

​Female archer clinches Vietnam’s first 2017 SEA Games medal

Thursday, August 17, 2017, 10:52 GMT+7

Vietnam’s archery team was tasked with kick-starting the country’s medal haul at the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia on Tuesday, but only one female archer was able to shoot her way onto the podium.

Six-time SEA Games competitor Nguyen Tien Cuong had been Vietnam’s biggest gold medal hopeful before his elimination in the quarterfinals.

However, Cuong’s three team gold medals and one individual trophy in previous Games were not enough to help him surmount the psychological pressure of competition.

Where Cuong fell short, Chau Kieu Oanh was able to pick up the slack. 

The 20-year-old archer appeared completely at ease throughout her tournament debut. 

Her impressive performance landed her in the individual compound bow final and saved the Vietnamese delegation from finishing the first day of competition empty-handed.

Oanh’s semifinal score of 145 out of 150 possible points set the bar high for her finals performance. 

In her first finals round attempt, Oanh’s score of 27 out of 30 possible points was bested by Sri Ranti of Indonesia’s 30 out of 30. 

The Vietnamese attempted to close the gap in the following rounds, but her 142 points came just shy of Ranti’s 144.

“Pressure is an inevitable part of sports and archery in particular,” Vietnam coach Cap Manh Tan said.

“Oanh was tense in her first attempt. We cannot blame her for that, given this is her first-ever SEA Games appearance.”

However, Oanh appeared to remain calm throughout the competition, even after finishing shy of the gold trophy.

“I was not under much pressure. Being able to compete in my first SEA Games was enough for me,” she said.

Oanh said she plans to use the cash bonus from her silver medal to buy a new tractor for her father, a dream she has long cherished.

“I did not take up archery for money. I’m just really in love with this sport,” she added.

The 2017 SEA Games are being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from August 19 to 30, hosting 404 events in 38 different sports.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

TUOI TRE NEWS

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Latest news