Women's 200m Double Canoe: Vietnam wins gold medal with 43.419 seconds, just 0.010 seconds ahead of Thailand.

VHO - A breathtaking sprint in the canoeing race on the afternoon of December 12th brought Vietnam one of the most dramatic gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games. In the women's 200m double canoe final, the pair of athletes Nguyen Thi Huong and Ma Thi Thuy overtook the host team Thailand by just 0.010 seconds, finishing first with a time of 43.419 seconds.

According to the organizers' results, the Vietnamese double sculls finished 0.010 seconds ahead of the Thai double sculls.

According to the official results from the organizers, the Vietnamese doubles boat started in lane 3, while Thailand competed in lane 5. Indonesia (lane 4) was also considered a direct competitor after what they showed in the qualifying round. As expected, the race took place at very high speed right from the first few meters of water.

At the start, Nguyen Thi Huong and Ma Thi Thuy were not the fastest pair of athletes to break away. The Vietnamese boat was somewhat slower than Thailand and Indonesia, and was even overtaken by their opponents in the first 50-70 meters. However, from the middle of the race onwards, the situation began to change.

The Vietnamese boat's rowing rhythm increased noticeably, becoming more consistent and powerful. The coordination in each stroke, the ability to maintain a stable speed, and the well-balanced distribution of energy helped Nguyen Thi Huong and Ma Thi Thuy gradually close the gap. In the final 50 meters, the Vietnamese boat was parallel to Thailand's, creating a fierce battle before the finish line.

A dramatic victory by the bow of the boat.

At the crucial moment, the composure and acceleration of the Vietnamese pair came into play. The Vietnamese boat surged ahead in the final meters to finish first with a time of 43.419 seconds, while Thailand was only 0.010 seconds slower (43.429 seconds). Indonesia finished third with 43.457 seconds.

The extremely small gap between the first two boats highlights the intense competition and the increasingly close skill levels of women's canoeing in Southeast Asia. At the same time, this victory reflects the meticulous tactical preparation of the Vietnamese canoe team, especially in short-distance speed events – where explosiveness and precision are paramount.

The gold medal in the women's 200m double canoe event is also Nguyen Thi Huong's second gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. Previously, on December 10th, this athlete, along with Diep Thi Huong, won the gold medal in the women's 500m double canoe event.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/canoe-doi-nu-200m-viet-nam-gianh-hcv-with-43-giay-419-hon-thai-lan-dung-0010-giay-187822.html