Bangkok: Vietnam ended its gold drought on the first day of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) as Nguyen Thi Huong and Diep Thi Huong powered to victory in the women’s 500m canoe sprint final. The pair, who earlier this year claimed the Southeast Asian championship title and took silver at the Asian Championships, dominated the December 10 final with a time of 2 minutes and 6.487 seconds.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the victory marks a significant achievement for Vietnam, as Nguyen Thi Huong and Diep Thi Huong have shown remarkable consistency and skill throughout the year. Their win at the SEA Games 33 adds to their growing list of accomplishments and highlights their status as top competitors in the region. The gold medal win not only breaks Vietnam’s gold drought at the games but also boosts the morale of the Vietnamese contingent competing in Cambodia.