The Vietnamese team on the podium after winning gold in the women's quadrant event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct 4. - VNA/VNS
HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): Vietnamese coach Tran Thi Vui and her players were over the moon after their gold medal win in the women's sepak takraw quadrant event at the 19th Asian Games (Asiad) in Hangzhou, China on Tuesday (Oct 3).
World champions Vietnam came from behind to beat Indonesian 2-1 in the final match of the team-of-four event at the Jinhua Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Both sides were neck-on-neck in most parts of the first match. With the score level at 14-all, the Indonesians took charge and won 21-18.
Coach Vui took several minutes in the break time to lift her players.
Vietnam came back strongly in the following two sets. Tran Thi Ngoc Yen's powerful attacks had Indonesia on the ropes while her three teammates successfully blocked most of the Indonesian attempts to score.
Vietnam won 21-18 and 21-14 to ensure gold.
It is the second time that Vietnam beat Indonesia in this Games. In their first meet in the group round, Vietnam won 2-1 on Tuesday.
Earlier, Vietnam also beat Indonesia 2-0 in the world championship final match in July in Thailand.
“This is a great title for not only our team but also the whole Vietnam delegation," said Vui.
"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."
Player Nguyen Thi Yen couldn't stop smiling during an interview with reporters after the victory ceremony.
It was her third time on the podium within a year.
Yen won titles in the world championship, the 32nd SEA Games and now the Asian Games.
"I am excited about the win which contributes to the overall achievement of Vietnam," said Yen who made her debut in the Asiad.
"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 a gold and facing the more experienced Indonesians, we were confident and believed in our youth, strength and good technique.
"This gold is for my coaches who strongly help us before and during this tournament, and my family and friends."
This is the second gold for Vietnam after one in shooting last week.
The gold also ended the team's 17-year wait for a victory. The previous gold was won at the 2006 Asaid in Doha, Qatar.
Vietnam currently collected two golds, three silvers and 14 bronzes to place No 17 in the medal tally.
