Irrepressible Vietnam win first gold of Games

DOHA, Dec 6 (Reuters) Vietnam won their first gold medal of the Asian Games today, beating traditional sepaktakraw powerhouse Thailand in a thrilling women's team final.

It took the Vietnamese four hours to eke out a remarkable victory against the red-hot favourites and defending champions at the Al-Sadd Sports Club.

''We might not be as proficient in our skills, but the girls do have a big heart,'' overjoyed Vietnamese coach Tung Lap Ha said.

''The Vietnamese star on our bandanas represents how much we love our country.'' For large periods, Thailand had the best of the nail-biting encounter, which featured dozens of acrobatic rallies with both sides using their heads, chests, thighs and feet to rack up the points and keep the hand-woven ball in play.

They were ultimately unable to fight off the irrepressible Vietnamese, however.

The Vietnamese had looked set for a trouncing after trailing 9-0 and going down 21-13 in the first set, but clawed it back with some impressive blocking and a powerful service game.

They won the next two sets to take the opening regu but Thailand answered back with a combination of sturdy defending and fierce attacking play to force a deciding third regu.

CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE A carnival atmosphere at the Al-Sadd arena put Thailand on a high throughout the match, with hundreds of flag-waving fans singing traditional Thai songs, blowing horns and dancing to the sound of pounding drums and rattling tambourines.

Kitted out in yellow to mark the Diamond Jubilee of their revered king Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Thais had looked on course for victory after winning the first set of the decider.

But the agile Vietnamese trio of Bach Van Nguyen, Thi Thuy An Nguyen and Thinh Thu Ba Nguyen levelled it and romped home 21-12 15-21 15-11.

The Vietnamese charged on to the court and fell into a huge embrace, with several players falling to their knees and bursting into tears.

Vietnam's team captain Thinh Thu Ba Nguyen said: ''We are very happy to win the first gold medal for Vietnam. It's been a long time waiting to beat Thailand.

''It was an exciting game, but we kept going. We believed in ourselves and we worked together to do this for our country.'' Thai coach Thucheep Kongmeechon said losing the first set had cost them the gold medal.

''We lost heart,'' he told reporters. ''Vietnam got better and better every time they scored a point.'' Thailand are hoping to make amends by beating arch rivals Malaysia in the men's team final. Both Malaysia and Thailand claim to have invented sepaktakraw.

Reuters PDS DB2040