Sản wins historic SEA Games duathlon title

Phạm Tiến Sản (left) runs ahead of Indonesian Rudi Febriade during their duathlon race. VNA/- VnExpress News Photo Công Đạt

Thanh Hà

Vietnamese athletes won three more gold medals yesterday morning with Phạm Tiến Sản making history with his title in the men’s duathlon event.

Sản was initially a 3000m steeplechase runner who won silver at three previous SEA Games in 2013, 2015 and 2017, but switched to the duathlon over a year ago. 

He finished the combined 10km running, 40km cycling and 5km running with a time of 1hr 55.57 min on Tuần Châu Island, Quảng Ninh Province.

It is the first time that Việt Nam has won this title in a SEA Games. 

“I prepared very well for this SEA Games. This medal is for all supporters,” Sản said after crossing the finish line.

“I have a great feeling right now. I am extremely happy because I am back on the national team after four years. I have changed the colour of my medal from silver to gold, although it is in a different sport,” he said.

Rudi Febriade and Jauhari Johan of Indonesia came second and third, respectively.

Double gold for Mangrobang

Kim Mangrobang ruled the women’s duathlon on her way to earning the distinction of being the Philippines’ first multiple gold winner.

The 30-year-old veteran ruled the roost with a time of 2:13.12.

Her victory made it back-to-back gold medals for the Philippines in the women’s duathlon, an event Monica Torres topped in the 2019 SEA Games.

Mangrobang comfortably edged her closest pursuers in the run-bike-run race by over a minute, as Malaysians Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (2:14.22) and Zahra Putri Bulan Aprillia (2:14.49) rounded out the podium finishers. 

On May 14, Mangrobang also took the triathlon title, her third straight SEA Games title in a row.

She has now won five golds and one silver throughout her SEA Games career.