Team Vietnam produced a gold medal haul on the first day of official competition at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia, with its athletes stepping on the top podium eight times on Monday.

Weightlifters Le Van Cong and Nguyen Binh An both won gold by smashing records in the men’s 49kg and 54kg weight divisions, respectively.

The swimming team also had a wonderful day by winning four gold medals.

Vi Thi Hang won the women’s S7 100m freestyle event for the first time in her third Para Games appearance, while her male teammates Vo Huynh Anh Khoa, Ha Van Hiep and Nguyen Thanh Trung also snatched gold in the S9 100m freestyle, SB3 50m breaststroke and SB4 50m breaststroke disciplines.

Vietnam’s disabled swimmer Vi Thi Hang poses with a symbolic cash bonus granted by Herbalife. Photo: Tuoi Tre

During track-and-field competition, Vietnam lost all of its racing events, but Cao Ngoc Hung and Nguyen Thi Hai managed to win gold in the men’s F57 javelin and women’s F56/57 discus events, respectively.

After the first day of competition, Vietnam was in fourth place on the leader board, while Indonesia topped it with 22 golds.

Every Vietnamese medalist will receive cash rewards from team sponsor Herbalife.

The 2017 ASEAN Para Games, officially known as the 9^th ASEAN Para Games, is a Southeast Asian disabled multi-sport event taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between September 17 and 23.

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