Six Vietnamese athletes to take part in Asian Grand Prix

The Asian Athletics Association has invited six Vietnamese athletes to compete at the upcoming Asian Grand Prix.

They are Vu Thi Huong (women’s 100m), Quach Thi Lan (women’s 400m), Do Thi Thao (women’s 800m), Duong Thi Viet Anh (women’s high jump), Nguyen Van Lai (men’s 5,000m), and Nguyen Van Hung (men’s triple jump).

It will be the first time Lan has competed at the event.

The first meet will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 4, followed by Chonburi, Thailand, on May 8, and finishing in Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 12.

Binh Duong to play friendly with Japanese club

V-League side Becamex Binh Duong will play a friendly match with the Japanese league's Kawasaki Frontale cub on June 1 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Japan.

Though the Japanese team hasn't won a J League title, the team finished second in 2006, 2008 and 2009. The team's current line-up includes famous players such as Kengo Nakamura and Junichi Inamoto.

The match will take place in Binh Duong Stadium and attendance is free.

Thai Son Nam District 8 take title at women's futsal event

Thai Son Nam District 8 beat Tao Dan District 1 in the final of the HCM City Women's Futsal Championships in HCM City on Wednesday.

Hong Bang International University beat Tanimex Tan Phu to secure the third place.

The winners walked away with the trophy, gold medals and a cash prize of VND10 million (US$480). The runners-up received VND7 million and VND5 million, respectively.

The event, which kicked off on March 19, is considered the top women's futsal tournament in HCM City.

The tournament was aimed at developing and improving the level and training of women's futsal and identifying players for the national team in preparation for the Asian Indoor Games in June in South Korea, and the 27th Southeast Asian Games in December in Myanmar.

Vietnamese ousted from Men's Futures tennis tournament

Vietnamese tennis players were knocked out of the Men's Futures F1 in the southern province of Bac Lieu on Tuesday.

Nguyen Hoang Thien was defeated by second seed Lucas Pouille of France 7-5, 6-2 in the second round of the men's singles, while Ly Hoang Nam lost to Czech's Lucak Otakar

6-3, 6-2.

In the men's doubles, Minh Tuan and Anh Khoa lost to David Pamminger of Australia and Warit Sornbutnark of Thailand 6-7, 4-6.

Futsal Open begins at venues across HCM City

The HCM City Futsal Open for strong teams will begin today at the Phu Tho and Thai Son Nam Gymnasiums in HCM City.

The event, which will last until April 2, has attracts eight teams who will compete in two round robins..

The champion will receive VND30 million (US$1,400), while the runners-up will get VND20 million and VND10 million.

The event's organising board also gives awards for the best player, the best goalkeeper and the top scorer.

The tournament is held to improve professional futsal skills in the country.

Southeast Asian Student Sports Festival to kick off in June

The fifth Southeast Asian Student Sports Festival is scheduled to begin at Ha Noi's Elite Athletes Training Centre on June 22-30.

About 1,500 athletes and coaches from eight countries will participate, including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, and Viet Nam.

Students will compete in track-and-field, swimming, pencak silat, basketball, sepak takraw, badminton, gymnastics, table-tennis and volleyball.

At a meeting with team representatives in Ha Noi earlier this week, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Quang Quy said the festival would enhance solidarity and knowledge-sharing in the region.

At the fourth festival in Indonesia last year, Viet Nam won 27 golds, 17 silvers and 16 bronzes.

Ha Noi 1 lead women's football competition despite loss

Ha Noi 1 lost to Phong Phu Ha Nam 1-0 in the fifth and last round of first leg of the National Women's Football Championship-Thai Son Bac Cup in the northern province of Ha Nam on Tuesday.

Despite the loss, Ha Noi 1 took the lead in the first leg with 12 points after five matches in a round robin format. Phong Phu Ha Nam came second with 10 points and HCM City third with eight points.

The annual event has attracted six teams. The second leg is scheduled from June 9 to 22 at Ha Nam Stadium.

National classical and freestyle wrestling cup closes

The National Classical and Freestyle Wrestling Cup concluded in the northern province of Thai Nguyen yesterday.

In the women's freestyle wrestling event, Ha Noi topped the medal table with four golds, one silver and two bronze medals while in the men's competition, the People's Army team took the lead with three golds, six silvers and two bronzes.

In the men's classical wrestling, People's Army team performed outstandingly to rank first with two golds and five silvers.

The event, which kicked off on March 21, attracted more than 200 wrestlers from 20 teams across the country.

VNA/VNS