5-10-2023 (HANGZHOU) The elation was palpable as Vietnamese coach Tran Thi Vui and her talented players clinched a gold medal in the women’s sepak takraw quadrant event at the 19th Asian Games (Asiad) in Hangzhou, China, on a momentous Tuesday, October 3rd.
The world champions from Vietnam staged a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over their Indonesian counterparts in the final showdown at the Jinhua Sports Centre Gymnasium.
In the initial match, both teams were fiercely competitive, with neither side willing to yield an inch. As the score remained locked at 14-all, the Indonesians seized the initiative and captured the set 21-18.
However, Coach Vui used the break to deliver a motivating speech to her players, igniting the spark that Vietnam needed to regain control of the game.
The second and third sets showcased Vietnam’s remarkable resilience and determination. Tran Thi Ngoc Yen unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks, leaving the Indonesian team on the defensive, while her three teammates adeptly thwarted most of the Indonesian attempts to score. Vietnam won both sets 21-18 and 21-14, securing the coveted gold medal.
This victory marked the second time that Vietnam had triumphed over Indonesia in the same Games. Their initial encounter in the group stage ended with Vietnam prevailing 2-1, and earlier in July, Vietnam had also defeated Indonesia 2-0 in the world championship final held in Thailand.
Coach Vui, elated by the victory, expressed her sentiments, stating, “This is a great title for not only our team but also the whole Vietnam delegation. It makes us very happy and moved. In this Asiad, Indonesia along with Myanmar are our toughest rivals. In the first game of the final, Indonesia took their advantage when they won the right to serve first, leading to their win. But in the second, when Vietnam took the right, we did it well to level the score. The third game saw my players really good in both attack and defence for valuable points. My players also faced psychological problems after the first game but they came back strong. These elements contributed to our win today.”
Nguyen Thi Yen, a player who couldn’t hide her joy after the victory ceremony, spoke of her immense pride in her team’s accomplishments. This gold medal marked her third time on the podium in less than a year, with previous victories in the world championship and the 32nd SEA Games.
“I am excited about the win, which contributes to the overall achievement of Vietnam,” Yen, who made her Asiad debut, remarked. “Prior to the match, the whole team discussed together and we set the highest determination to win the gold medal. During the match, we were a united team, supporting and encouraging each other. Although we were under pressure to win gold and faced the more experienced Indonesians, we were confident and believed in our youth, strength, and good technique. This gold is for my coaches who strongly helped us before and during this tournament, and my family and friends.”
The gold medal victory marked Vietnam’s second gold in the Games, following an earlier win in the shooting category. This triumph also ended the team’s 17-year drought in securing a gold medal at the Asiad, with the previous gold being earned at the 2006 Games held in Doha, Qatar.
Vietnam has, so far, amassed two golds, three silvers, and 14 bronzes, placing them at the 17th position in the medal tally. Their resounding success in sepak takraw demonstrates the nation’s exceptional sporting prowess on the international stage.
