2012 National track-and-field championships begin

Four hundred and sixteen athletes from 42 teams across the country are competing in the 2012 national track-and-field championships, underway in Hanoi from October 4.

The capital city is represented by the greatest number of athletes (57), followed by the Army (44) and Ho Chi Minh City (31).

On the first day of competition, athletes competed in hurdling, long jump, hammer throw, shot put, and high jump.  

The tournament, which is expected to uncover prospective national team talent in preparation for the SEA Games and Asian Games, will last through to October 9.

Trang progresses to second round of Kalamata tourney

Viet Nam's Huynh Phuong Dai Trang will meet Laura Deigman of England in the second round of the women's singles at the International Tennis Federation's US$10,000 Kalamata Open in Greece.

The country's top player also paired with Israel's Keren Shlomo to defeat Spanish duo Josephine Boualem and Amaia Ormazabal-Oregui 6-1, 6-1 in the women's doubles event.

They will meet Paulina Czarnik and Corina Jaeger in the semi-finals.

It is one of six European tournaments that Trang has taken part in since August.

The Vietnamese player has signed a three year sponsorship deal with Dunlop worth VND450 million ($21,500).

Ninh Thuan to play Nghe An in U21 football final

Dark horses Ninh Thuan will play Song LamNghe An in the final of Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper's U21 football tournament today.

Hosts Ninh Thuan received great support from home fans to beat Khanh Hoa 4-1 on penalties in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Song Lam overcame Quang Ninh Coal 5-3, also on penalties, in the second semi.

When the teams met in the group stages, Ninh Thuan lost 0-2.

Ha wins gold at Asian junior fencing championships

Bui Thi Thu Ha secured Viet Nam's first gold medal at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships' cadet girls' epee event in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday.

The Hanoian fencer defeated a Hong Kong rival 15-13 in the final to take her title.

It was Viet Nam's second medal after the bronze won by Nguyen Phuoc Den in the cadet boys' epee event on Monday.

Asian fencers from 41 countries in the Oceania Fencing Confederation are competing in the Championship with some 380 athletes officially registered to take part in the event.

The tournament will continue until October 9.    

VNN/VNS/VOV