VN Muay Thai fighters progress to finals

Vietnamese fighters proved their power at the ongoing Asian Thai Muay Championships in HCM City yesterday, July 11.
World defending champion Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat defeated Fan Chung Chieh of Chinese Taipei to enter the finals of the men's under-60kg category.

Earlier Nhat trounced SEA Games winner Noukhit Latsaphao, one of title favourites, in the quarter-finals.

His rival will be the winner of the second semi-final match this afternoon.

In the men's U63.5kg pool, HCM City-based Van Dai beat Rai Mani of India.

Meanwhile Nguyen Phu Long won a spot in the final of the men's U54kg after beating Shao Wei of Chinese Taipei yesterday.
Nguyen Ngo Nhat Trieu of Viet Nam also took his finals ticket in the men's U51kg class.

On the women's side, Phan Thi Ngoc Linh, world semi-professional champion, and Nguyen Thi Toan also booked their places in finals matches.

The Asian tournament will wrap up on Saturday.

Grandmaster Liem finishes seventh in rapid, blitz chess competition

Viet Nam's top player Le Quang Liem finished seventh out of 16 competitors in the final round of the blitz event at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Kazakhstan which wrapped up on Tuesday.

He scored 14 wins, five draws and 11 losses, earning 16.5 points. Alexander Grischuk of Russia was crowned champion with 20 points.

The final round attracted 16 players, with Liem the only Asian representative in the tournament.

Dung takes fifth stage of Women's Open Cycling Tournament

Nguyen Thuy Dung of the Binh Duong Environment, Water and Drainage team claimed the fifth stage of the National Women's Open Cycling Tournament-An Giang Television Cup yesterday, July 11.

Over the 90km stage from Vinh Long City to Vi Thanh City, the South Korean team seemed to be controlling the race, but Dung sprinted to cross the finish line first in a time of 2:38.48 with an average speed of 34kmh.

South Korea's Na Heegyeong and Rhee Chaekyun came in second and third, respectively.

Her win means that Dung retains the yellow jersey with an overall time of 11:30.28. Nguyen Thi That of Vinh Binh Rice Mill and Nguyen Thi Thanh of Dong Thap Domesco Pharmacy are in second and third with times of 11:30.32 and 11:30.47.

In the team rankings, Dong Thap are still in the lead with a combined time of 34:33.05, followed by Binh Duong Environment, Water and Drainage and South Korea.

Cyclists will take part in the 75km sixth and final stage from Vi Thanh City to Long Xuyen City today, July 12.

Network secures more broadcast rights to European football

Viet Nam Satellite Digital Television (VSTV) yesterday announced it had acquired the broadcasting rights for the most popular football leagues in the world for the 2012-13 season, including the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.

"Kplus retains the sole ownership of broadcasting rights of the English Premier League's Sunday matches," confirmed VSTV General Director Cao Van Liet.

More than 1,200 matches will be broadcast on Kplus 1, Kplus PC and Kplus NS, both in SD and HD format.

Kplus subscribers will have a chance to experience a new application called Multifoot on Kplus 1 in the new season, that will allow them to follow up to eight different matches at the same time without switching channels.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News