Vietnam added another medal to their ASIAD 2026 tally on September 20 as karate athlete Bui Ngoc Nhi claimed bronze in the women’s individual kata event on her Asian Games debut. The result made karate the second sport to deliver a medal for the Vietnamese delegation at the 20th Asian Games in Japan.
Competing at the Asian Games for the first time, Ngoc Nhi faced a difficult opening-round challenge against Japan’s Maho Ono and suffered a 5-0 defeat against the highly rated home athlete. However, the loss did not end her medal hopes as she was given another opportunity through the repechage round, where she faced South Korea’s Choi Haeun. The Vietnamese athlete responded impressively, producing a technically strong performance of Tomari Bassai to secure a convincing 5-0 victory and book her place in the bronze-medal contest.
The repechage victory set up a decisive meeting with Singapore’s Leong Wai Yee Shannon. For the bronze-medal match, coach Do Thi Thu Ha selected Papuren for Ngoc Nhi’s performance. The Vietnamese athlete delivered under pressure, combining powerful and precise movements with an impressive competitive presence to earn a 4-1 victory. The result secured the women’s individual kata bronze medal and added another podium finish to Vietnam’s ASIAD 2026 campaign.
Ngoc Nhi is considered one of the promising athletes in Hanoi sports and the Vietnam national karate team’s women’s kata programme. Her campaign in Japan is not over, as she is also scheduled to compete in the women’s team kata event. Vietnam karate team leader Vu Son Ha praised the athlete for maintaining her composure and delivering when it mattered most. “Ngoc Nhi maintained her concentration during the competition and performed her techniques at her best. We would like to congratulate her on winning another bronze medal for Vietnamese sports,” he said from Japan.
Japan’s Maho Ono, who defeated Ngoc Nhi in the opening round, went on to win the gold medal in the women’s individual kata event. Ngoc Nhi’s bronze continued an encouraging start for Vietnam at ASIAD 2026 after Nguyen Hoang Minh Tan and Trinh Gia Nghi had earlier secured the delegation’s first medal with bronze in the mixed doubles teqball event.
VSN/RPT
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