SINGAPORE - Vietnam continued its dominance in the powerlifting events on Sunday as Nguyen Thanh Xuan broke the men's up to 65kg Asean Para Games record with a 171kg lift.

Second-place finisher Chumchai Phongsakon from Thailand had set the previous 170kg record at the 2014 edition. His best lift here was 161kg, finishing ahead of bronze medallist Jasni Vision (145kg) from Malaysia.

Speaking through a translator, Xuan said: "I did not know I could break the record as I did not know who the opponents were. But after one or two attempts, I realised I could win the gold and break the record. I am very, very happy."

Singapore's Melvyn Yeo finished fourth in the event with his 112kg effort. His attempt at the Marina Bay Sands Hall B bettered his previous personal best of 105kg achieved at the Kazakhstan IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships.

In the men's up to 59kg event, Thailand's Kasanun Narong clinched the gold with his lift of 166kg, beating Indonesia's Hidayat Ahmad Hidayat (156kg) and Vietnam's Nguyen Van Phuc (155kg).

The powerlifting events continues on Monday.