Walker Pham Thi Thu Trang crosses the finish line. Photo bongda24h.vn

Walker Pham Thi Thu Trang was added to Vietnam's team two months prior to the Games after she finished second in the national championship.

Greenhorn Trang was accompanied by Olympic participant Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, who was expected to win her fourth title.

They took the lead after half of the 10,000m race and ensured a gold for Vietnam. However, Phuc made a technical mistake and her time was docked by two minutes, leaving Trang alone at the finish line.

Trang, 21, took gold with a time of 52min 59.45sec.

“I walked without pressure. The coaches told me to feel free to compete. It was a surprising result for me. I came here thinking that crossing the finish line would be a success," said Trang. "I didn't think I could win gold in my first SEA Games.”

Trang has been training in athletics for six years but only moved to walking in the last two years. She also works as a Grab bike driver in her spare time to help her parents pay the bills.

Days later, her teammate Dinh Thi Bich was a revelation in the women's 800m.

In the Philippines, national silver medallist Bich ran with her teammate Khuat Phuong Anh, who is the national champion.

In the first 700m, Bích was in the middle of the pack but she finished strong over the last 100m to pass everyone and secure her first-ever SEA Games gold.

"I took part in this Games with a relaxed mind because having a chance to compete here is already an honour," said the 22-year-old.

"In this race, as a new face, I was a little nervous. I asked myself to get as close as possible to the leaders and speed up in the last metres, and it worked," said Bich. "The gold will be a milestone in my career. I believe I can develop better in the future."

Hoang Thi Duyen fulfilled half of her dream when she won a gold medal in the SEA Games women's 59kg weightlifting category.

Hoang Thi Duyen lifts in the women's 59kg category. Photo vtv.vn

The Giay ethnic minority girl had no rival in her class which saw Duyen dominate with a total lift of 210kg, a new Games record.

"It is great to win in Vietnam's most important regional sports competition. There is no feeling better than seeing our national flag flying the highest," said Duyen in her SEA Games debut.

Duyen played a key role in helping Vietnam earning a berth in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and won a silver medal in the world championship last year.

The 23-year-old is currently in the world's top eight and hopes to complete the other half of her dream by winning Olympic gold in Tokyo next summer.

In the pool, Tran Hung Nguyen, 16, opened a new chapter in swimming and took golds in the men's 200m and 400m medley and set one Games record.

"Honestly I did not think of winning gold, never mind two golds, in my first time at the SEA Games," said Nguyen.

"I swam without pressure and just tried hard. I still feel happy and proud of my success," said Nguyen.

Nguyen Thi Tam is an experienced Vietnamese boxer, but the Philippines event was her first SEA Games.

Asian champion Tam said she was nervous but her experience in both amateur and professional tournaments helped a lot.

Nguyen Thi Tam celebrate her boxing victory. Photo baoquocte.vn

"I had to defeat three rivals including a host athlete to win the gold medal in the women's 51kg. I worried a little at first but everything became a force to push me to fight better. Winning in the SEA Games is really wonderful," said Tam, owner of Vietnam's only boxing gold.Tam has no time to rest and is preparing for the Olympics qualifier. The world No 4 will vie for one of six slots available in a Chinese tournament in February. Other debutantes contributed to the brilliant SEA Games for Vietnam such as runner Tran Nhat Hoang who won a hat-trick of golds in the men's 400m, 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relay, weightlifter Pham Thi Hong Thanh who won the women's 64kg and kurash martial artist Hoang Thi Tinh in the women's 52kg. VNS

Thanh Ha

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