Quan to battle Cambodian Bun

Viet Nam's top tennis player Do Minh Quan reached the semi-finals of the Tanimex Cup ongoing in HCM City, beating compatriot Tran Thanh Hoang 6-2, 6-3 yesterday, April 21.

Sixth-seeded Quan, who defeated compatriots Nguyen Xuan Dung and Bui Thai Luan in the first and second rounds, will face second-seeded Kenny Bun of Cambodia in the first semifinal match today.

The other semifinal promises to be an exciting game between third-seeded Pongsiri Niroj of Thailand and top-seeded Sunu-Wahyu Trijati of Indonesia.

Pongiri, who is attending the event for third time, beat Viet Nam's Van Huu Nguyen Vu 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals while Trijati, who is competing at the tournament for the first time, overcame another Vietnamese athlete Le Quoc Khanh 6-4, 6-2.

The final match of the tournament will be played tomorrow, April 23.

Kung-fu Kayode gets ban, fine

Nigerian goal poacher Samson Kayode of V-League's Dong Thap was banned for five matches and received a cash fine of VND30 million (US$1,500) for his behaviour in the match between Dong Thap and Ninh Binh on Sunday.

The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF)'s Disciplinary Department announced the punishment after reviewing video evidence.

Kayode and his opponent Chau Phong Hoa of Ninh Binh clashed repeatedly during the match at Cao Lanh Stadium.

However, in an attack near the corner flag, the two players again tussled and Kayode aimed a kung fu kick at Ninh Binh's defender Chau Phong Hoa.

The Nigerian was red carded, but continued attacking Hoa.

Dong Thap finally won the game 2-0 to take second place in the V-League.

Dong Thap will play Binh Duong at away game on Sunday.

Kayode, with 10 goals shares top spot in the goal scoring table with Hoang Anh Gia Lai's Brazilian Evaldo.

VN women draw tough group

The Viet Nam women's football team will meet Iran in the second round of the London 2012 Olympic qualifiers at King Abdullah Stadium in Jordan on June 6.

The team, who qualified from first round last month, will also play Jordan, Uzbekistan and Thailand in a tough group.

The five teams will compete in a round-robin format.

The top team will get a berth in the final round with China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Australia, from which the top two will qualify for the London Olympics next year.

Viet Nam have won the Southeast Asian Games four times, but the team has never qualified for an Olympic Games since the country made its debut at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

HCM City, Army top at tennis

Top player Mai Hoang My Trang and her teammate Hong Hanh grabbed two decisive wins to help HCM City Telecommunications beat the Public Security team 3-2 in the women's team final at the National Table Tennis Championship in Hai Duong Province on Wednesday.

Trang, the HCM City-born ace, edged out the Public Security's Nguyen Viet Linh 3-2 before Hanh crushed Mai Huong 3-0 in the last singles match.

In the men's division, the Army took the crown after a 3-1 win over PetroVietnam in the final at Hai Duong Gymnasium.

The championship, which has drawn 100 players from 14 teams, continues today with the men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

The winners will walk away with prize money VND80 million (US$3,800) after the final matches conclude on Sunday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News