On October 23, 2023, Weightlifter Le Van Cong "opened" the medal haul for the Vietnamese Disabled Sports Delegation at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou (China), when he won a bronze medal in the men's 49kg weightlifting category.

Weightlifter Le Van Cong is the golden hope of the Vietnamese disabled sports delegation. Before entering the 2023 Asian Para Games, Le Van Cong held all three records in this weight class, including the world record (183.5 kg), the Asian record (183.5 kg) and the Asian Para Games record (181.5 kg). The 39-year-old weightlifter also won a gold medal at the world championships in Saudi Arabia in August, with a result of 176 kg.

However, athlete Le Van Cong had to endure the pain to compete at the 2023 Asian Para Games because he was being treated for a torn shoulder muscle injury. The 2016 Brazilian Paralympic champion failed in his first attempt at the 170 kg weight. Not giving up, Le Van Cong decided to increase the weight to 171 kg and successfully performed it to the joy of the coaching staff and teammates.

With the successful lift of 171 kg, Le Van Cong was sure to win at least a bronze medal, so he raised the weight to 173 kg to compete for the silver medal with Al Sudani (Iraq). Le Van Cong continued to succeed at 173 kg, but Al Sudani also successfully lifted this weight and ranked higher thanks to the secondary index (competing first). The gold medal went to Omar Qarada (Jordan) when he successfully lifted 182 kg, breaking Le Van Cong's Asian Para Games record set in 2014.

This is also the first medal of the Vietnam Disabled Sports Delegation at the 4th Asian Para Games. This afternoon (October 23, 2023), the Vietnam Disabled Sports Delegation continued to win another bronze medal from weightlifter Nguyen Binh An with a score of 184kg in the men's 54kg weight class./.

KV