Fencer tests skills in Philippines

Nguyen Tien Nhat will leave for the Philippines to take part in the Asian Under 23 Fencing Championships, which kick off on June 2, ahead of his participation at the London Olympics.

The seven-day tournament, which is organised for the first time, will feature all fencing events in the men's and women's categories. It will be a test for Nhat after one month of intensive training in South Korea in preparation for the London Games.

According to Phung Le Quang, head of the fencing section, Nhat displayed a good technique when he defeated many strong rival at the Olympic qualifiers last month. Under favourable conditions for training in South Korea he would gain confidence and learn more lessons ahead of the London Games.

Frenchman wins paramotor race

Mathieu Rouanet from France became champion at the Danang International Paramotor Race at Bien Dong Park on May 27.
Paramotor is the generic name for the two-stroke engine and propeller carried on the back of a paraglider.

Rouanet accumulated 2,000 points after two days of competition to beat off Emilia Plak from Polan, with 1,845 points.

Japanese Ryoya Igarashi came third with 1,817 points.

Rouanet had a perfect performance on the opening day on May 26 in the acrobatic, slalom and speed races. The French pilot walked away with a cash prize of US$10,000.

“It’s my great pleasure today to compete in the first competition in Vietnam. We are sure the event will be a great promotion for Vietnam and the coastal city,” Rouanet said at the awards ceremony on May 27.

“It was so amazing when I flew over the skies of Danang. I received crazy support from thousands of local people and tourists on My Khe beach.”

Vice Chairman of Danang People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Anh said: “We enjoyed spectacular and impressive performances by the world’s leading pilots at the Danang International Paramotor Race.”

At the meeting, spectators were invited to fly with the pilots.

“It was a great moment in my life when I flew over and looked down the long and pristine beach,” said spectator Vo Cong Tri.

Teams fall short at Asian champs

Viet Nam ranked fourth at the Asian Chess Championships which wrapped up in China yesterday, May 27.

In the last round Viet Nam beat Hong Kong 4-0 to have 12 points in total after five wins, two draws and two losses. Host team China 1 successfully won the title, followed by India and China 2.

On the women's side, the Vietnamese quartet defeated Indonesia 2.5-1.5 in their last round but failed to climb the rankings.
They finished fifth after three wins, two draws and four losses.

Viet Nam win golds in Taiwan

Viet Nam grabbed three golds and one bronze at the Taiwan Open Athletics championships which closed on Saturday.
Sprinter Vu Thi Huong took the first medal in the women's 100m event with a time of 11.73sec.

Nguyen Thi Oanh also won a gold in the women's 400m race, clocking in 55.46. It was her second gold at the tournament after her triumph in the 400m hurdle one day earlier.

Tran Hue Hoa earned her own gold in the women's triple jump with a result of 13.37m.

A bronze medal was also won by SEA Games first runner-up Nguyen Thi Phuong in the women's 3,000m event.

VNN/VNS/VOV