Asian Games 

AICHI — Việt Nam won two bronze medals in the first day of competitions of the 20th Asian Games on September 20 in Japan.

The latest medal went to karate squad after Bùi Ngọc Nhi finished third in the women's kata (performance) category at the Toyohashi Stadium in Aichi Perfecture.

Nhi lost 0-5 to No 1 seed Ono Maho of the host in the round of 16 and dropped to the repechase round where she beat Choi Haeun of South Korea 5-0. In the bonze-medal match, the 19-year-old overcame Leong Wai Yee Shannon of Singapore 4-1 to enter the top three finishers in her first continental Games.

Maho went on to beat Lau Mo Sheung Grace of Hong Kong-China 5-0 to take gold medal.

Nhi will have more competition as she will group with two teammates to compete in the team kata event on September 22. 

Việt Nam are currently Southeast Asian and SEA Games defending champions.

In 2025, the team won the gold medal at the Asian Karate Championships, defeating China in the final.

The first bronze belonged to duo Nguyễn Hoàng Minh Tân and Trịnh Gia Nghi in the mixed double tegball event. They beat Indian Dsouza Quimcy Joaquim and Beg Mohamed Anas Imran  2-0 (12-9, 12-6).

In wushu, Ngô Thị Phương Nga beat Mongolian Davaajargal Purevjav in the women's 52kg sanshou (combat) category. She advanced to the quarter-finals which will be organised on September 22.

Her male teammate Trương Văn Chưởng beat Un Iat Wai of Macau-China in the men's 70kg category for a place in the last-eight round.

Meanwhile, athletes in shooting, cycling, volleyball and mixed martial arts failed to make top three.

Việt Nam are now at No 18 in the medal tally. 

China are on top with seven golds, followed by Japan with five and South Korea with three.

On September 21, many competitions will be organised. Vietnamese players will vie for high places in nine sports including beach volleyball, football, boxing, swimming and gymnastics. — VNS