Hung Vuong Volleyball Cup kicks off in Phu Tho

The 2012 Hung Vuong Volleyball Cup is taking place in the northern province of Phu Tho from March 27 to 30.

The event has brought together eight strong teams, including the top four men’s and top four women’s teams in the first leg of the PV Oil 2012 National Volleyball Championships that concluded in Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces last Saturday.

The four male teams include Trang An Ninh Binh, Duc Long Gia Lai, The Cong Army Corps 15 and PetroVietnam, while the four female teams comprise VTV Binh Dien Long An, Tien Nong Thanh Hoa, Vietinbank and LienVietPostBank.

The four-day tournament is held annually by the Vietnam Volleyball Federation and the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with total cash prizes of VND340 million (US$16,320).

Phan Thiet tourney set to challenge players

Over 110 golfers will compete at the Ocean Dunes Club Championship in Phan Thiet City from April 21-22, the organising committee has announced.

As scheduled, men with handicaps of 32 and women with handicaps of 36 will compete in 36-hole stroke-play.

The top four players from each division will be seeded for the second round.

Hung sets sights on three points

Ha Noi T&T's coach Phan Thanh Hung has set his sights on three points as his first-place team takes on third-place Sai Gon FC in the 12th round of the V-League Eximbank 2012 this Sunday.

"We have prepared well for the match, and the goal is to win three points," Hung said.

Ha Noi T&T and Sai Gon are separated by only one point, so the game is important for both teams, who need points to maintain their narrow group lead.

The Ha Noi-based team has won only two points in two past away games, while the strength of Sai Gon has been under scrutiny as the club's successful period since the beginning of the season ended with two defeats in a row, including its first loss at home.

However, Hung praised Sai Gon's style and skill.

"Sai Gon's threats come from physical strength and the devastating attacking play, so our players need to find ways to neutralise these threats," Hung said, adding that his team does not have any significant loss of force except for the suspension of defender Nguyen Quoc Long.

Second-place Binh Duong are likely to extend their winning streak as they take on mid-table Hoang Anh Gia Lai at home.

Other title contenders Song Lam Nghe An and SHB Da Nang stand a good chance to keep nipping at the heels of top teams as they, as home teams, are favourites to win the game over Khanh Hoa and Ninh Binh.

Bottom-ranked Hai Phong, which has lost its last four matches, are back home to seek their first win over Ha Noi FC, which are falling into the relegation zone and are trying to avoid demotion.

Thanh Hoa are likely to gain a point against Dong Thap while Navibank are too strong for Kien Giang.

Nearly 300 shuttlers join Vietnam International Challenge 2012

Nearly 300 badminton players from 24 nations and territories around the world are taking part in the Ciputra Hanoi Vietnam International Challenge 2012 at Trinh Hoai Duc gymnasium in Hanoi from March 26 to April 1.

Vietnam has sent 48 of its most outstanding players including many popular names such as Do Tuan Duc, Le Ha Anh, and Bui Quang Tuan, to compete in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles categories, for cash prizes totalling US$15,000.

The seven-day tournament offers a good chance for Vietnamese pair Bui Bang Duc and Do Manh Thang to accumulate points to meet the qualification for the 2012 London Olympic Games this summer.

At last year’s event, Lee Dong Keun from the Republic of Korea was crowned the men’s singles champion after beating Singapore’s Chen Yong Zhao Ashton 3-1 in the finals.