Vietnam won five gold, six silver and nineteen bronze medals to rank second at the Ho Chi Minh City International Judo Championships 2009 which wrapped up Sunday.

Although Japan had sent a young team comprising university students and provincial athletes, it led the tournament with seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

South Korea came in third, securing two gold, four silver and eight bronze medals in both men’s and women’s events.

The tournament, the 18th of its kind so far, drew the participation of 170 athletes from Japan, the Republic of Korea, France, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Hong Kong and the host nation.

It was a warm-up event for judo artists from regional countries to prepare for the first Asian Martial Art Games in Thailand and the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25) in Laos later this year.

Source: VNA