11.15.09 – Vietnam surpassed 40 Asian countries such as India, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia to claim second place after China at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games (AIG). Host Vietnam collected 94 medals, including 42 gold, 30 silver and 22 bronze compared to China’ 48, 25, and 19, respectively.
The 2009 AIG was the last sport event before it merges with the Asian Martial Arts Games, to be held every four years starting 2013. When AIG started in Bangkok, Vietnam ranked 21 out of 36 teams competed but climbed to 13th place in 2007 held in Macau.
Teams competing for the Asian Indoor Games have to be recognized by the Olympics Council of Asia (OCA), the governing body of sports in Asia. According to the Vietnamese Asian Indoor Games Organizing Committee (VAIGOC), the 2009 AIG sported the Ho Chicken as its mascot, representing the five honorable qualities of mankind: literacy, martial arts, physical strength, humanity and loyalty. Fortunately, the 2009 AIG was not affected by typhoon Mirinae since the event only took place in northern Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.
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