Annual peace run celebrates capital city's liberation

The Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi) newspaper's annual run kicked off at the capital's Hoan Kiem Lake on October 7.

The 39th Run for the Peace is one of the activities to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Hanoi's liberation (on October 10) and the 55th anniversary of the newspaper.

More than 1,200 racers including ambassadors and diplomats have registered to take part in the competition, which will see organisers donating VND50 million (US$2,400) to the capital's Fund for the Poor.

This year, participants compete over different distances ranging from 1,750m (one lap of the lake) to 8,750m (five laps) divided into categories for pupils, students, workers, foreigners and professional athletes.

Preliminary races have been organised in communes, wards and residential areas since July.

Last year's event attracted 2,000 runners. It is one of many events aimed at promoting sports among local people.

Haiphong hosts National Sport Aerobics Championships

The 2012 National Sport Aerobics Championships officially kicked off in Haiphong city on October 6.

The event attracted more than 70 athletes from Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Tra Vinh and Phu Yen, who will be competing for 10 sets of medals in both the youth and national championships.
 
Experts say this year’s tournament is a good chance for the two strongest teams – Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong – to earn medals.

After several years of assistance from HCM City, Haiphong has now affirmed its strong position with a number of its athletes as primary members on the national team.

Hanoi is also considered a main contender, thanks to its foreign coach and young team members.

Top players ready to serve up an ace at national tennis event

The National Tennis Championships – Vietravel Cup kicked off yesterday, Oct 7, at the Ha Noi Athletics Palace.

The event has drawn 50 top players including defending champion Do Minh Quan, Huynh Phuong Dai Trang, Tran Lam Anh and rising star Ly Hoang Nam, who will take part in the men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

The event will finish on October 13.

Fate of Navibank football club hangs in the balance

HCM City's football club Navibank Sai Gon is likely to either be dissolved or taken over by other management, following the decision of Nam Viet Joint Stock Commercial Bank's (Navibank) to stop sponsoring the club.

In a letter to the HCM City Football Federation (HFF), Nguyen Vinh Tho, chairman of the HCM City-based bank, said the bank could not extend its sponsorship because of financial difficulties it was experiencing.

According to the letter, Navibank gave VND300 billion (US$15 million) to the club in the last three years.

Tho, who has not found any investors willing to buy the club, said he hoped the city would take over the administration of the club.

The HFF said it would seek help from the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to settle the problem and decide the fate of the club.

The bank bought the football club, formerly named Military Zone 4, in 2009 and renamed it Navibank Sai Gon.

VNN/VNS/VOV