Grandmaster wins silver in Asian Games chess debut

Checkmate: IGM Le Quang Liem wins a silver in the men's individual event for Viet Nam in Guangzhou. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI — International grand master Le Quang Liem won a silver medal of the Asian Games' men's individual yesterday in Guangzhou.

Liem pocketed 7.5 points after nine games, level with eventual gold-medal winner Kasimdzhanov Rustam of Uzbekistan. Liem lost out as he had been defeated by Rustam in their match on Monday.

It is the first time chess is an official sport of ASIAD.

Wushu martial artist Nguyen Thanh Tung bagged a silver - the third for at the Games yesterday.

Tung scored 18.32 points with a combined performance of taijijan and taijiquan, finishing second behind his powerful Chinese rival.

Tung said he couldn't believe he had actually won the silver until he was standing on the podium.

"It is the first time I have taken part in such a big tournament," said Tung.

"As a freshman here, I am not thinking of winning a medal. I told myself that it is not a competition but a performance and all the other people are spectators who are admiring it."

Head coach Nguyen Phuong Lan said the silver medal was a big surprise, as he was only 18 years old and defeated much more experienced rivals.

"But in taolu (performance), athletes' nerves are very important," said the coach. "Tung is inexperienced but he can deal with pressure. He feels free to perform and he succeeds."

Vietnamese wushu sanshou athletes are expected to win a gold medal today as three have booked berths in the final matches.

Nguyen Thi Bich who defeated Iran's Mansoryansamiroumi Elaheh 9-1 in the women's 52kg category yesterday will fight against host E Meidie.

Her male teammates Phan Van Hau will compete China's Li Xinjie in the 56kg class while Nguyen Van Tuan will play Zhang Junyong, another Chinese, in the 65kg pool.

The nine-man Viet Nam Olympic football team, that qualified for the second round in their first appearance at the Asian Games, lost to a powerful North Korea 2-0 in the knock-out round at Yuexiu Stadium.

Later, Viet Nam's women footballers lost to China 0-1 in the last minutes during the premilinary round.

It was the second defeat for the Southeast Asian Games champions, who are set to play Jordan in the last group round match tomorrow. — VNS