Viet Nam's martial artists win silver, bronze at world event

Vietnamese martial artists won one silver and one bronze medals at the ongoing World Wushu Championships in Ankara, Turkey.

In the men's gunshu (cudgel-play) event, Nguyen Manh Quyen who pocketed the all-around bronze in the Guangzhou's 16th Asian Games, China, last year.

The gold medal went to Jia Rui from Chinese Macau with 9.80 points. Rui also won gold in the 16th Asian Games when he pocketed victory with 19.61 points in the wushu all-around for the former Portuguese colony.

Japan's Daisuke Ichikizaki rounded out the top three with 9.71 points.

Vietnamese wushu artist Tran Xuan Hiep ranked fifth in this event with 9.70 points.

In the women's qiangshu (spear-play) event, Nguyen Mai Phuong took the bronze medal with 9.58 points. The first and second place belonged to Turkey's Elif Akyz with 9.60 points and Zheng Tian Hui of Hong Kong with 9.59 points.

The world event, which has attracted 700 martial artists from 83 nations and territories, will conclude tomorrow, Oct 15.

Chess masters Liem, Son to receive sponsorships

World No 25 Liem will receive $150,000 of the sum, while Son, who ranks 106, will be given $50,000, said the VCF.

Nguyen Phuoc Trung, deputy chairman of VCF explained that Liem had priority for the funding to help facilitate his move into the world top ten. However, Trung also affirmed that sponsorship funding could be adjusted if Son were to advance significantly.

The two-time Aeroflot champion Liem left for the US on Wednesday to participate in the Spice Cup from October 15-25 where he will meet strong rivals such as Alex Onischuk of the US, George Meier of Germany and Leinier Dominguez of Cuba in Group A.

National squad set for official SEA Games blast-off

More than 600 athletes, coaches and officials will take part in ceremony to send off Viet Nam's SEA Games squad at the Opera House on October 30, the national sports administration has announced.

The ceremony is traditionally held to boost athlete morale and confidence before the competition begins.

Viet Nam will send 593 athletes to compete in 36 sports at the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and Palembang from November 11-25.

Viet Nam is likely to bag between 70 and 90 gold medals to finish in the top two in the region's biggest sporting event, according to the national sports administration.

Viet Nam hopes to secure gold in 14 martial arts events, including karate, wushu, taekwondo and judo, and to compete strongly in chess, weightlifting, billiards and snooker.

In the 25th SEA Games held in Laos two years ago, Viet Nam won 83 gold, 75 silver and 57 bronze medals to rank second in the medal tally, just behind Thailand.

Trang Van Thanh appointed as Dong Thap's new coach

Trang Van Thanh has been appointed to coach V-League side Dong Thap.

Thanh, who previously coached the provincial U-19 football team, replaced coach Pham Cong Loc, who guided the team to fifth place in the 2011 V-League season.

The club's leaders believe Thanh has the talent to help the club play well in spite of the fact that he was suspended for 18 months for assaulting a referee after last year's national U-19 championship final to protest what he claimed were unfair decisions.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News