Vietnam wins 7 golds at Singapore Int’l Open Karate Champs 2011


Vietnam has won the championship title at the Singapore International Open Karate Championships 2011 with a total of 7 gold and 1 bronze medals.

The tournament is the Vietnamese team’s first experience this year in preparation for the 26th SEA Games.


The national team, including Vu Thi Nguyet Anh, Le Bich Phuong, Tran Hoang Yen Phuong, Nguyen Minh Phung and Nguyen Hoang Hiep, performed in a good manner.

They will take part in the next open tournaments scheduled to take place in Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Asia and Turkey, respectively in May, June, July and September.


Women footballers get set for national tourney


The National Women's Football Championship will kick off on April 9 in the northern province of Ha Nam with the participation of six teams.

The annual tournament which sees teams competing in round robin format will be played over two legs. The first leg will conclude on April 27, with the second round of matches to take place from July 2-20.

Hosts Phong Phu Ha Nam will meet defending champions HCM City in the opening game. Later, Thai Nguyen will play Viet Nam Coal and Minerals while Ha Noi Trang An 2 will clash with Ha Noi Trang An 1 in the next day.

This year the championship promises some surprises with several senior players from stronger teams having retired.

HCM City's and best ever national player Doan Kim Chi, Ha Noi Trang An 1's Dao Thi Mien and Do Thi Ngoc Cham and Phong Phu Ha Nam's Van Thi Thanh now work as team coaches.

The winning team who grab most points after the two legs will take VND150 million (US$7,500) in prize money, double last year's award.

The runners-up will pocket VND100 million ($5,000) and VND50 million ($2,500), respectively.

Organisers will also present bonuses to the best player, top scorer, goalie and fair-play team.

Viet Nam Football Federation officials hope that the tournament will reveal talented representatives for the national team which will compete at the Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship in Laos this October.


Tien Minh to compete at open badminton tourney in Australia


Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh will take part in the Australian Open Grand Prix 2011 in Melbourne, Australia from April 5-10.

Minh aims to enter the semi-finals and move further to defense his champion title won in 2010.

This year’s tournament is expected to see fierce competition among the world’s most outstanding players for a cash price of US$120,000.

Minh is placed seventh on the world’s rankings, and considered the tournament’s No.2 seed. His Thai rival, Boonsak Ponsana, is currently in sixth position and selected as the No.1 seed.

There is high hope that Minh will enter the world top ten and win at least one title.


Marksmen to compete for Cup


The 18th National Shooting Cup competition will start this Sunday at the National Sport Training Centre shooting range in Ha Noi.

More than 150 marksmen in teams including Ha Noi, HCM City, the Army, Hai Duong and the Public Security have registered to compete in the seven-day event.

There will be 14 events for men and 10 for women in both individual and team categories.


VNN/VOV/VNS