Quy Phuoc, Anh Vien wins gold at SEA Swimming Champs

Two Vietnamese athletes earned gold medals in the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships which kicked off in Singapore on June 17.

Hoang Quy Phuoc came in first in the men’s 200m freestyle.

He beat former champion Danny Yeo Kai Quan from Singapore and finished the race after 1’49s68, breaking his record of 1’50s64 set at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013.

Nguyen Thi Anh Vien defeated Khoo Cai Lin (Malaysia) to top in the women’s 400m freestyle.

At the 2012 SEA Age Group Swimming Championships in Singapore, Anh Vien garnered five gold medals in 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and 100m and 200m medley. Quy Phuoc got one silver medal in the 100m freestyle.

Tough challenge for Vietnamese girls at regional football tourneys

Young Vietnamese players will take on archrivals at their 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U16 and U19 Championships qualifiers following the results of draws on June 17.

At the AFC U19 qualifying round, Vietnamese girls are pooled together with Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong (China) in the same group. Vietnam will have a slim chance to move the final round as only group winners are entitled to qualify.

It is even more challenging for the U16 Vietnam squad as they will clash with Australia, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Vietnamese girls have made the final round of the AFC U19 Championship three times, but have never competed at the AFC U16 Championship.

Vietnamese teams will gather in late July to prepare for the two Asian qualifying rounds due to take place later this year.

Liem concedes defeat at World Chess Champs

Vietnam’s international GM Le Quang Liem only secured two points from five games on June 17 – the second day of the 2014 World Blitz and Rapid Championships in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Liem (Elo 2724) overwhelmed Inarkiev Ernesto of Russia (Elo 2693), drew with Laurent Fressinet of France (Elo 2681) and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam (Elo 2660), and surrendered to Nepomniachtchi Ian (Elo 2768) and Tomashevsky Evgenny (Elo 2693), both from Russia.

The Vietnamese player fell to 26th in the rapid chess rankings from 7th he got on the first competition day.

In contrast, Liem’s teammate Truong Son performed well, achieving 3.5 points after five matches.

The 24-year-old player outclassed Nikita Vitiugov of Russia (Elo 2707) and Nikita Vitiugov of Austria (Elo 2701).

He had three draws with Anand Viswanathan of India (Elo 2770), Movsesian Sergei of Armenia (Elo 2696) and his teammate Quang Liem.

Truong Son now has 6.5 points, standing 11th in the rankings.

Carlsen Magnus of Norway (Elo 2881) tops the rapid chess category, with 8 points after 10 matches.

On June 18, players will compete in 15 rapid chess matches.

From June 19-20, blitz chess will be held with 21 matches.

Minh crashes out of Indonesian Open at first hurdle

Viet Nam's top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh was ousted from the BCA Indonesian Open's first round yesterday.

Minh, who remains the world No 10, lost to Hu Yun of Hong Kong, world No 15 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 10-21) in the match which lasted one hour and five minutes.

In the recent South Korea Open, Olympian Minh beat Yun 24-22, 11-4 after Jun withdrew from the second set.

The US$ 750,000 Superseries Premier event attracted some of the world's best players and will end on June 22.

Quang Nam lad wins first gold in junior air shooting championship

Ho Duc Thien from Quang Nam, won the first gold on the opening day of the National Junior Air Shooting Championship at the Da Nang Sport Centre No 3 yesterday.

Thien, who competed in the boys' 10m air pistol under-16 division, scored 544 points after 60 shots, beating Tran The Van of the Public Security Ministry and Vu Tien Nam of Army team.

However, HCM City team comprising Dao Van Tuan, Nguyen Minh Hoa and Nguyen Vo Hoang Vu, grabbed the team gold with an accumulated 1,570 points.

Quang Ninh team came in second with 1,408 marks.

In the 10m air pistol boys' under-18, Tran Tuan Anh of the Public Security Ministry team fired for gold with 556 points, two points clear of the runner-up Nguyen Dinh Dong of Army team.

Tran Cong Hieu of HCM City came third with 537 points. Tuan Anh and his teammate also took the team gold with 1,511 points. Silver went to Quang Ninh team, who scored only 658 points.