Vietnamese archer Cong Duc missed out on a historic medal at the Asian Games, finishing fourth in the individual event after falling short in both the semifinals and the bronze-medal match, according to Báo Văn Hóa. At just 23 years old, his deep run marked a milestone for the nation’s archery program on the continental stage.
Quarterfinal Breakthrough Against South Korea
The campaign began with a notable upset on October 1, when Cong Duc defeated South Korea’s Choi Yonghee 146–143 in the quarterfinals. That victory secured his place among the final four competitors and positioned him as a contender for the tournament’s top honors.
Semifinal Turnaround Against Chinese Taipei
Advancing to the semifinals, Cong Duc faced Chang Cheng Wei of Chinese Taipei in a tightly contested match. The turning point arrived in the fourth round, where the Vietnamese archer scored only 8 points on his second arrow. That single misstep erased his narrow advantage, leading to a 144–145 defeat and knocking him out of gold-medal contention.
Bronze-Medal Match Reality Check
Relegated to the third-place playoff, Cong Duc met India’s Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam. Although he shot a perfect score in the third end, he could not sustain that precision through the closing arrows. He ultimately lost 144–149, settling for fourth place in what stands as the first time Vietnamese archery has ever reached an individual medal match at the Asian Games.
Broader Delegation Context at the Games
While Cong Duc narrowly missed the podium, the wider Vietnamese delegation secured multiple historic milestones during the multi-sport event.
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