Local swimmer Anh Vien makes a splash in US

Following her success at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar,double gold medalist Nguyen Thi Anh Vien,is scheduled to attend an intensive training course in the US in January in preparation for next year’s games.

High hopes are pinned on the 16-year-old female swimmer achieving even better results at the 17th Asian Games, scheduled for Incheon, the Republic of Korea in 2014.

Anh Vien is currently serving the Vietnam’s People Army. Her outstanding performance at the recent SEA Games has earned her respect and admiration from fellow competitors from Indonesia and Singapore.

Anh Vien is hopeful to reach the top three in the women’s backstroke 200m event at the coming Asian Games, said coach Dang Anh Tuan.

Dong Nai triumphs at HCM City Cycling Open

Truong Quoc Thang won the men's amateur category (for people aged 16 to 55) of the HCM City Cycling Open, which concluded in HCM City on Sunday.

The second and third positions went to two cyclists from Dinamo - Dong Nai: Le Tan Lai and Nguyen Minh Nhat.

In the men's senior category, Dao The Hung of Dong Nai Super Probike grabbed the top spot, while second place went to Vo Ngoc Minh of Dinamo – Dong Nai, and Mai Tan Phuoc of Ba Ria – Vung Tau came in third.

The annual tournament attracted some 250 cyclists in 23 teams from eight provinces and cities across the country.

Thien wins year-end Viet Nam Masters

Nguyen Hoang Thien triumphed for the first time at the Viet Nam Masters tennis tournament with a victory at the Phu Tho Tennis Club in HCM City yesterday.

Thien, from HCM City, defeated Trinh Linh Giang of Ha Noi 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in the men's final match.

Thien, who was the first Vietnamese to compete at the Australian Open's junior category two years ago, dominated Giang throughout the match.

His strong serves kept Giang at the baseline throughout the match. Also, Giang was unable to resist attacks at the net from Thien, who received strong home support. Giang lost three break points in the first set, two each in the remaining two matches, while not winning a break point against Thien.

Yesterday's Masters final was the first for both players. And it is the first title for Thien in three of the largest national tournaments of the year. Giang has not won a title this year.