Ly wins muaythai gold at AIMAG

Bùi Yến Ly of Việt Nam (right) pockets a gold medal in the women’s  五 一kg muaythai event at the fifth AIMAG in Turkmenistan. — Photo nld.com.vn

AIMAG

HÀ NỘI — Bùi Yến Ly secured the only gold medal of muaythai for Việt Nam at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) yesterday in Turkmenistan.

The World Games’ reigning champion defeated Iranian Yavari Fatemech  三0- 二 七 in the women’s  五 一kg category at the Muaythai Kickboxing Arena on the last day of the event.

Ly got a bye in the first round. She then beat Tarapen Carissa from the Philippines in the quarter-finals and Gwa Weiying Cheryl of Singapore in the last-four round, all with a result of  三0- 二 七.

Coach Giáp Trung Thang said Ly was a smart and strong fighter who was always hungry for victory. She always has  一00 per cent focus in every game and is flexible in switching her tactics to face different situations. She is good at attack and perfect at defence.

Ly is a Hà Nội athlete. She first rose to prominence on winning a gold medal at the  二0 一 三 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

The  二 二-year-old then won the Asian Beach Games in  二0 一 六 and the World Games in Poland some months ago.

In a later final, Vietnamese Trương Thị Hồng Nga snatched a silver medal in the women’s  六 三. 五kg category, losing to Wankrue Janejira of Thailand.

Earlier, Việt Nam’s greatest hope, Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất, the seven-time world champion, unexpectedly lost in the men’s  六 一kg quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Currently, Việt Nam have scored five golds and are placed seventh. Four other golds went to athletes in track-and-field, weightlifting and kurash.

Turkmenistan, Iran and Thailand have secured the top three positions, respectively. — VNS