Vietnam wins first gold medal at Asian Para Games in Japan

Hai clocked 1 minute 33.91 seconds in the final, finishing ahead of compatriot Le Tien Dat, who took silver in 1:36.63.

Iran's Rashidabadi Ali finished third in 1:47.78.

The result reversed the order of the two Vietnamese swimmers at the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2022, where Dat struck gold and Hai took silver.

Their performances highlighted Vietnam's strength in the event, with both swimmers finishing among the top two again.

In other swimming events on Tuesday, Vi Thi Hang finished fourth in the women's 50-meter butterfly S7 in 41.17 seconds, missing a medal by 0.37 seconds.

She later placed fourth in the women's 50-meter freestyle S8 final.

Trinh Thi Bich Nhu also finished fourth in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB5 final, while Vo Thanh Tung came fifth in the men's 100-meter breaststroke SB4 event.

Vietnam has won four medals at the Games so far, including Hai's gold, Dat's swimming silver, a silver medal in weightlifting for Le Van Cong, and a bronze in athletics for Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy.

The 2026 Asian Para Games opened on October 18 with around 4,000 athletes and officials from 45 National Paralympic Committees.

The Games will run through October 24.

Vietnam’s 36-member delegation is led by Nguyen Trong Ho, deputy director of the Vietnam Sports Administration.

It includes 21 athletes competing in five sports — athletics, swimming, powerlifting, table tennis and badminton — as well as six coaches, six officials, one doctor, and one guide athlete.