Paragliding team to fly in SEA Games

A HCM City paragliding team have been chosen to compete at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia next week, the National Sports Administration said.

It's the first time the sport has been included at the biggest regional sporting event since the first SEA Games in Thailand in 1959.

The 10-member team began training at airports in HCM City, Dong Nai Province's Bien Hoa City, Phan Thiet and Da Lat City, aiming for gold medals from November 12-22.

The team will be competing in the men's and women's singles and team events for 12 medal sets.

"We want to win at least one gold medal at our SEA Games debut. It's the first time the team will have played abroad against tough competition from Thailand, the Philippines and the hosts," said Can Manh Hung, the team coach.

"The team faced difficulties during training last month because of rain and storms in southern provinces. We are also in need of sponsorship for the event," Hung said.

The paragliding squad are one of six teams along with the basketball, roller sport, climbing, dance and golf teams who will compete at the SEA Games under their own funding.

The sport, which was imported into the country in 1990s, attracts about 100 participants who train for five men's and five women's teams in Ha Noi and HCM City.

U23 players aim for gold at SEA Games

The national U23 football team left for Indonesia on October 31 on its quest for a SEA Games gold medal.

Consisting of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and four strikers in total, the squad will face its first rivals from the Philippines in Group B at the Gelora Stiwijaya Stadium in Palembang on November 3.

Other group teams include Laos, Brunei, East Timor and Myanmar.

Despite his worries regarding injured defenders Nguyen Thanh Long Giang and Bui Xuan Hieu and forward Hoang Dinh Tung, chief coach Falko Goetz remains confident of positive results.

“While there is no pressure to win gold, we will still play to the best of our abilities. Believe in us!” he said during a final training session at Ho Chi Minh City’s Thong Nhat Stadium.

Vietnam, since its premier 52 years ago in Thailand, has yet to triumph at the SEA Games.

The national squad has been promised US$1 million if it wins this year’s event.