Viet Nam progresses at World Chess Olympiad

Viet Nam's men's and women's teams won their first matches at the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Turkey on Tuesday.

The men's team beat Nicaragua 3-1 with two wins and two draws. Grandmasters Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son defeated William Bravo and Ernesto Fonseca Cabrera in the first and second boards, but Nguyen Van Huy and Nguyen Duc Hoa were forced into stalemate in the final two games.

They will play against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the second round.

The women's team had an impressive win over Ireland, with Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Le Kieu Thien Kim and Hoang Thi Nhu Y all emerging victorious.

They will next compete against Hungary.

The tournament has attracted a record 158 teams from around the world, and will wrap up on September 10.

HCM City in lead at national taekwondo championships

HCM City are leading the National Taekwondo Championships after winning four gold and one bronze medals in the performance events on the first day of competition on Tuesday at Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium in HCM City.

Binh Phuoc are in second with one gold, two silver and one bronze, while An Giang are in third with one gold, one silver and one bronze.

The tournament has drawn 367 martial artists from 32 cities and provinces, and will close on Saturday.

Referees vie for Golden Whistle and Flag titles

The Viet Nam Football Federation announced a shortlist of five candidates for the Golden Whistle award on Tuesday for the 2011-12 season.

Vu Bao Linh, Phung Dinh Dung, Nguyen Duc Vu, Vo Quang Vinh and Nguyen Trong Thu were named for their commitment to fair-play and the national leagues.

Vinh, from Khanh Hoa Province, is favourite to win the title for the second time in a row after a near flawless season.
In the race for the Golden Flag prize, referee's assistants Nguyen Phong Vu, Pham Manh Long, Nguyen Hoang Minh, Chau Duc Thanh and Nguyen Truong Xuan have been shortlisted.

Last year's winner Nguyen Ngoc Ha was not included on the list due to personal reasons.

Football experts and reporters will vote for the winners, who will be announced on September 7.

Le Khac Chinh takes over from disgraced chairman Kien

Ha Noi Joint Stock Football Company has appointed Le Khac Chinh as chief executive officer to take over from disgraced chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.

Chinh will represent the company with the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) for its two teams, Ha Noi FC and Ha Noi Youth FC.

According to Chinh, footballers from the two clubs received their salaries and bonuses on Tuesday. "Both teams will meet up at the beginning of October," he said.

After Kien was arrested for illegal financial activities last week, the VFF asked the company to suspend him and find a new chairman.

National team prepare for friendly matches

Coach Phan Thanh Hung announced a list of 23 players on the national team to begin training in the capital city in preparation for three friendly matches.

The team comprises of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, 10 midfielders and two strikers.

Players from the top three teams in the V-League take up more than half of the team. There are four footballers from champions SHB Da Nang, six from second-placed club Ha Noi T&T and three from third-placed squad Sai Gon Xuan Thanh.

The list has attracted the attention of fans when three new names who haven't played for the national team before.

They are Ninh Binh's midfielder Nguyen Gia Tu, midfielder Pham Nguyen Sa from SHB Da Nang and Ha Noi T&T's defender Nguyen Quoc Long.

Hung has also called up veteran players such as defenders Nguyen Van Bien of Ha Noi T&T and Dao Van Phong of Khanh Hoa, goalkeepers Duong Hong Son of Ha Noi T&T and Bui Tan Truong of Sai Gon Xuan Thanh.

Footballers Pham Thanh Luong of Ha Noi FC and Le Tan Tai of Khanh Hoa, who are considered to be the country's best midfielders at this time, are also in the team.

Hung also placed his confidence in strikers Le Cong Vinh of Ha Noi FC and Nguyen Quang Hai of Navibank Sai Gon.

The players will attend a training course from September 4-23 in Ha Noi before playing three friendly matches.

The team will leave Ha Noi for Malaysia to compete against the Southeast Asian defending champion in Kuala Lumpur on September 9. Then they will play two matches against Indonesia, one in Indonesia on September 15 and one on their home turf on September 22.

Player banned for attempted match fixing

The Viet Nam Football Federation yesterday, Aug 29, said it has banned Nguyen Thanh Trung for five years for attempted match fixing.

Trung who is a member of Military Zone 9 Sport Centre based in Can Tho City asked two Dong Tam Long An players to fix the result of their First Division match against Fico Tay Ninh on May 17, the federation said.

Trung is not allowed to take part in any football activities organised by the federation.

Trung denied the claim, saying it was a joke. He has seven days to appeal.

VNN/VNS/VOV