Ly Hoang Nam wins in int’l tennis tournament

Young Vietnamese tennis player Ly Hoang Nam beat the host nation’s favourite Go Hyun 7-6 in their November 6 match at the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) B1 Group Tournament in the Republic of Korea (RoK).

By defeating Go Hyun (No.1,000 in ITF rankings), Nam has advanced to the tournament’s third round to clash against Japan’s Matsumura Ryotaro.

The Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF) also announced its November 6 decision to fine Binh Duong coach Tran Duc Quynh for violating national squad regulations.

Quynh had refused to join the Vietnamese male tennis team for preparations ahead of the Davis Cup (Asia-Pacific region Group 3) tie in August 2013.

His trainee Ly Hoang Nam also withdrew from the tie despite winning a gold medal at a 2013 Asian junior tournament.

Incentives for Vietnamese athletes

Vietnam Multimedia Corporation (VTC) will give a digital satellite receiver to athletes who win a gold medal at the South-east Asia Games in Myanmar next month.

The winners will also receive 12 months free access to the network.

At a press conference yesterday in Ha Noi, deputy chairman of the company, Vu Quang Huy, said the VND3,390,000 (US$160) gift was not big, but hopefully would encourage athletes.

Lam Quang Thanh, deputy head of the National Sports Administration and head of Viet Nam delegation, said at least eight other enterprises and companies had promised support for the team.

He said sponsors were also offering "hot, on-the-spot bonuses" to those who achieved great success.

Viet Nam will enter 591 athletes in 29 events at the Games, aiming to be one of the top three teams at the biennial event.

Meanwhile, the national women's football team has been granted support worth VND6 billion ($286,000) from Nutifood in preparation for the 2015 World Cup.

This will allow the team to train in Japan, one of the world's leading female football nations. The company has also promised jobs to footballers when they finish playing.

NutiFood sponsors VND6 bil. for female football team

Nutrition company NutiFood yesterday announced that they will set aside VND6 billion to sponsor and support Vietnam’s national female football team which is bidding to qualify for the World Cup.

The donation is part of the program “Together with Vietnam’s female football team towards World Cup 2015” from now until May 2014. VND2 billion of the money will be spent on a training course in Japan for the team to prepare for the Asian Cup 2014.

Furthermore, the company also supports the monthly income of the players and a budget to help the U19s women football team.

The company is also hoping to recruit the footballers during their season breaks and after retirement from football into their employment.