Lien Viet Cup all set to kick off

The Lien Viet Post Bank Cup international volleyball championships will be held from May 26 to June 3 in Bac Ninh Province.

Eight teams will be divided into two groups and will compete in a round-robin format. Lien Viet Post Bank will join Group A with PVD Thai Binh, Australia and New Zealand. Group B consists of VTV Binh Dien – Long An, Vietinbank, China's Liaoning and VietsovPetro.

The winning team will be receive US$15,000, while the second and third placed teams will receive $10,000 and $6,000, respectively.

Under-19 players draw with Pakistan

Viet Nam's U19 football team tied 0-0 with Pakistan's U22s in their second match of the Al-Nakba International Football Tournament on Wednesday.

In the first half, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam made two outstanding saves to keep his team in the game, but in the second half, Viet Nam turned the heat up failed to break the deadlock.

With just one point after two matches, Viet Nam only have an outside chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

Ha Nam overcome Ha Noi

Ha Noi Trang An 2 lost 2-4 to hosts Phong Phu Ha Nam at the National Women's Football Championships in their second match of the second round on Wednesday.

Ha Noi opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a goal from Nguyen Thi Hue, but he hosts equalised thanks to a shot from Nguyen Thi Lieu in the 32nd minute.

In the second half, Ha Nam took the lead with goals form Nguyen Thi Nguyet and Le Thu Thanh Huong's in the 57th and 88th minutes.

In extra time, Nguyet of Ha Nam and Hue of Ha Noi also added late goals for both teams.

Ha Nam have 13 points after seven matches, replacing Ho Chi Minh City in second position in the standings.

Tuan wins Return to Country stage

Do Phuoc Tuan of Vinh Binh Rice Mill won the eighth and final stage of the Return to the Country – An Giang Plant Protection Cup yesterday.

Huynh Thanh Tung of Military Zone 7 finished second to take the overall leader's yellow jersey.

The 120km stage ranged from Vi Thanh City to Long Xuyen City. Although the racing track was slippery because of rain, cyclists reached speeds of up to 40kmph. Tuan broke from the peloton 5km from the finish, and took the checkered flag in a time of three hours two minutes and 15 seconds with an average speed of 39.5kmh. Eight seconds later, Tung sprinted ahead of Tuan's teammate Ha Thanh Tam to finish in second.

Tung retained the yellow jersey with an overall time of 16:58.32, while Tam and Tran Nguyen Minh Tri of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap finished second and third with times of 16:59.30 and 17:00.06, respectively.

Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap won the team competition, followed by Military Zone 7 and Vinh Binh Rice Mill.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News