Asian tourney attracts 8 nations 

The Asian Student Table Tennis Championship kicked off yesterday in Hai Duong Province with the participation of athletes from eight countries and territories.

About 300 participants will compete for seven medal sets.

Athletes from China, Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to do well at the event. Chinese Wang Minger and Gao Ping have won several prizes at regional and continental competitions.

Meanwhile Gao Ang and Zhang You Hao of Singapore and Hong Kong's Chiu Chung Hei, Lam Siu Hang and Wong Chung Wan are also expected to bring fierce competition to the table.

Viet Nam has sent 12 athletes, six males and six females, to compete at the tournament. The final matches are scheduled to take place next Tuesday.

Golf Challenge to tees off at King Island

The VCCI Golf Challenge will tee off tomorrow at Ha Noi's King Island Golf Club with a view to creating a sports orientated business platform.

The tournament, sponsored by Tung Shing Group, is in its sixth year and is expected to draw around 200 local and foreign business people, mostly from Ha Noi.

The tournament will be played on an individual stroke play basis, using system 36 to compute net scoring and handicaps. There will be two divisions for men based on computed handicaps and one for women.

The organisers said cash collected from the tournament will be donated to victims of the recent flooding in Viet Nam's central provinces.

The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also present a series of four golfing events culminating in a grand final in 2011.

Veteran volleyballer gets national call-up

Veteran Nguyen Huu Ha has been called up to the national volleyball team to compete at the 16th Asian Games after 11 months on the sidelines.

Ha was banned from all levels of domestic competition following contractual complications with Trang An Ninh Binh Club but will start training with the national team next week.

"The call up to the national squad is not a surprise because Ha is an experienced and skilful player. He is necessary for the national team," said Tran Duc Phan, Viet Nam Volleyball Federation general secretary.

Ha said he couldn't believe it when he heard the news because he is still banned domestically. He said despite his own personal training, he is only at 80 per cent but will try his best at the upcoming Games.

U-21 football captain signs for Ha Tinh

Viet Nam's U21 football captain Nguyen Minh Duc has signed a three year deal with Xuan Thanh Ha Tinh for a transfer fee of VND8 billion (US$400,000).

Duc ignored renewed offers from his former club Hai Phong Cement to move to Ha Tinh where he will receive a salary of $2,000 per month.

It is the second big-name signing for the First Division club this week, following the earlier capture of Brazilian-born forward Huynh Kesley Alves, who has dominated the national forward line for years.

The team will start training early next month in preparation for the new season.

Hai Phong sign fullback Phuoc

Hai Phong Cement have signed Tu Huu Phuoc on a two year deal from Khatoco Khanh Hoa.

The VND3 billion (US$150,000) transfer will earn the U21 star a monthly salary of $1,500.

Phuoc was an ideal choice for Hai Phong due to his high levels of fitness and ability to cope with aerial pressure, however, he does lack experience.

The club who finished second in the V-League last season also looked at a number of foreign players on Thursday before introducing four new faces from their youth team who will join the senior squad next year.

Vietnam’s national women’s football team actively prepares for ASIAD 16
 
After a one week training course in Tam Dao, Vietnam’s women’s football team returned to the Vietnam Young Footballer Training Centre on October 23 to prepare for the 16th Asian Games (ASIAD) to be held in Guangzhou, China.

Three matches will be held under the direction of Coach Tran Van Phat on October 25, 27 and 29 to hone playing skills and select the best players. Mr Phat said a list of 18 footballers will be named and they will leave for Guangzhou, to train from November 1-11.

Later, the team will join ASIAD athletes to prepare for the qualifying rounds for berths in the semi-finals.

Vietnam’s women’s team will be in Group A with the Republic of Korea, Jordan and China. The two strongest teams in each group will enter the semi-final round.

Nha Trang hosts International Half Marathon Races 2010
 
The second international half marathon competition was held in Nha Trang city on October 24 as part of “Japan Culture Days in Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa”.

More than 230 athletes from Vietnam, Japan and other countries around the world took part in the event and competed in the women’s and men’s 5km, 10km and 21km events. A delegation from Khanh Hoa province took the lead in all the events.

This year’s competition strengthened fine relations between Vietnam and Japan and offered a good opportunity to promote Nha Thang –Khanh Hoa to international friends.

The event was co-organised by the Japanese General Consulate in HCM City and the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Asian Pupils’ Table Tennis Championship opens
 
The 2010 Asian Pupils’ Table Tennis Championship got underway at the Hai Duong Sports Centre on October 22.

The tournament has attracted 85 players from mainland China, Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to compete in seven events.

It provides an excellent opportunity for regional coaches, referees and athletes to exchange their experiences and improve the quality of physical training and sports qualifications in schools.

The tournament will finish on October 26.

PV