VietNamNet Bridge – All title contenders proved their strength yesterday at the national beach volleyball championships as they stormed into the semi-finals.

Hai Phong's Truong Thi Yen and Nguyen Thi Mai, who will represent Viet Nam at the Southeast Asia Games next month in Indonesia, beat Khanh Hoa's Tran Thi Nhung and Pham Le Tuyet Ngan 21-17, 21-10 in the quarter-final match.

Defending champions Yen and Mai will face Nguyen Thi Tiep and Pham Thi Minh of Tanimex in the semi-final match today. Tiep and Minh overcame Ngo Vo Thanh Loan and Tran Thi Trong of Khanh Hoa for their place in today's match up.

Phan Thi Cam Hong and Phan Thi Thu Ha will compete against Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen and Huynh Do Hong Loan in the other semi-final game.

Hong and Ha eased past Da Nang's Nguyen Phuong Thao and Dang Thi Phuong Dong 21-10, 21-12 in the quarter-final match while Tuyen and Loan defeated Hai Phong's Do Thi Hau and Hoang Thi Huyen.

On the men's side, Tanimex's favourite duo Lam Kim Trong and Pham Anh Tuan played a hard battle against their teammates Tran Ngoc Cao Son and Nguyen Minh Thien.

Trong and Tuan will take on Khanh Hoa's Dao Duy Thanh and Nguyen Van Thanh, who earned a place in the semi-finals with a 21-15, 21-17 win over their teammates Le Tung Nghia and Vo Thanh Nhan.

Khanh Hoa's Nguyen Trong Quoc and Nguyen Thanh Vinh also had a difficult match against Huynh Ngoc Vinh Phuc and Nguyen Van Vinh. The former overcame the latter at 21-16, 32-30.

Quoc and Vinh will meet the Fifth Army Zone's Huynh Quoc Tinh and Nguyen Van Quyen, who saw off Nguyen Ngoc Quy and Bui Hai Dang of Tan Binh.

The competition attracted 12 men's teams and nine women's teams from throughout the nation. The event will finish today with semi-finals and finals starting from 7am.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News