Truong Son wins bronze medal at Chinese int’l chess tourney

Vietnamese Grandmaster Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son earned a bronze medal at an international open chess tournament that concluded in China on October 7.

This was a positive result for Son as he was placed below only two rivals in the sub index.

Son’s teammate, Le Quang Liem, was not very successful in this competition, ranking only ninth with six points.

In the women’s event, Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam placed 31st, Pham Le Thao Nguyen, 47th, and Nguyen Thi Thanh An, 75th.
 
Int’l Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament begins

The International Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament-Khang Linh Cup 2011 opened in Vung Tau City on October 7.

Eighteen pairs from 10 countries and territories in the Asian region will battle it out for the medals.

The tournament features the talented Malaysian pair of Shun Ting and Teck Hua, who won bronze medals in the 24th and 25th SEA Games, and two couples from Vietnam, Truong Thi Yen and Nguyen Thi Mai from Haiphong, and Phan Thi Cam Hong and Nguyen Thi Tiep from Tanimex.

The Khang Linh Cup is an opportunity for athletes to gain more experience and prepare for the 26th SEA Games. The total prize fund for the competition is US$10,500.

The tournament is co-organized by the Vietnam Volleyball Federation, the Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Khang Linh-Vung Tau Company.

Montgomerie Links named Vietnam’s best golf course in 2011

Montgomerie Links in the central province of Quang Nam has been selected as the best golf course in Vietnam in 2010-2011.

The selection was based on a vote conducted by the Vietnam Golf Magazine from October 1 2010 to July 31 2011, attracting more than 756,000 people, mostly voting via the magazine’s website.

Montgomerie Links won the title thanks to its attractive location along beautiful beaches and impressive mountain ranges.

Bonus incentive for U23s

Another US$500,000 will be awarded to the Viet Nam's under-23 football team if they win the 26th Southeast Asian Games title.

Chairman of the Eximbank Le Hung Dung set up the bonus for the team on Wednesday, one day after they were promised the same amount by the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group.

As result coach Falko Goetz and his players will pocket at least $1 million if they triumph in Indonesia this November.

It does not include cash from the Viet Nam Football Federation and other enterprises as occurred in previous tournaments.

The $1 million is a record offer for the footballers, but a Viet Nam team have never won this SEA Games title. Previously they were tempted with VND6 billion ($285,000) ahead of the 23rd Games in the Philippines in 2005.

Regional teams pull out of VFF Cup

Thailand and Indonesia have withdrawn from the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) Cup, which will kick off on October 19 in Ha Noi.

The Thais explained the VFF Cup will clash with their Thai League.

The reason Indonesian pulled out was not revealed.

As result, VFF Cup fans will see U23s from Myanmar, defending champion Malaysia and Uzbekistan and host Viet Nam.

Coach Falko Goetz has added four new faces, left defender Xuan Hieu, winger The Hung and striker duo Minh Tuan and Huu Khoi to strengthen his team for the event.

The newcomers put on a good performance at the International Under-21 Football Tournament-Thanh Nien Newspaper which wrapped up on Tuesday in Pleiku.

Baseball gets SEA Games funding

The national baseball team will receive US$40,000 in sponsorship to compete at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia next month.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group has promised to support the team who will arrive in Jakarta with 20 players and three coaches.

The baseball team is one of nine joining the regions biggest sport festival thanks to funds from enterprises.

Earlier, the HCM City-based club received $10,000 from Sai Gon Tourist to attend in the 26th Games.

Minh to play in Denmark tourney

Badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh will face Kenichi Tago of Japan in the first round of the Denmark Super Series Premier to be organised on October 18-23 in Odense City.

If he wins, Minh, who is seeded No 9 at the tournament, will play another Japanese, Sho Sasaki, in the second round. His traditional rival beat Minh in the final of the Australia Open months ago.

Minh's chances of winning the US$400,000 event are in doubt, even if he can overcome Sho, because his biggest obstacle is Lin Dan, the Chinese world champion, who awaits him in the quarter-finals.

The Super Series in Denmark is the last warm-up for Minh before he takes part in the 26th SEA Games with the onerous task of winning a medal for Viet Nam.

TA