Vietnam tops tally at SEA karatedo champs

Vietnam is topping the medal tally with six golds, eight silvers and nine bronzes at the third Southeast Asia Karatedo Championships, which kicked off in the Mekong city of Can Tho on April 16.

With the largest team of 59 men and 30 women, Vietnam took home golds in kata and kumite performances for both juniors and adults.

Thailand is placed second with four golds, two silvers and one bronze while Indonesia ranks third, bagging three golds, one silver and one bronze.

The two-day tournament gathers 203 martial artists from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. They are competing for 39 sets of medals.

Dong Tam Long An have signed on Ganiyu Bolayi Oseni, Tran Chi Cong and Nguyen Dinh Hiep to strengthen their power for the second leg of V-League.

The Southern team's poor performance in the national premier league has got them the second place from the bottom. After 11 games, Long An earned only five points from five draws.

Oseni has played in Viet Nam for Kien Giang and Hoang Anh Gia Lai in 2012 and 2013. He scored 23 goals before leaving for Turkey's Kahramanmarasspor club. He returned to Viet Nam recently.

Hiep is coming to Long An on loan from Becamex Binh Duong and can play as a midfielder and striker.

Former national team halfback Cong was not being utilised in Binh Duong.

Long An's managers are hunting for candidates to fill the other positions.

HCM City women retain national tennis crown

HCM City held onto their women's team title at the National Team Tennis Championships in Hue City yesterday, after delivering a resounding win over the Military squad.

With stronger and more experienced players the HCM Ciy team had no difficulties notching the 2-0 win.

Huynh Phi Khanh defeated Tran Thi Thuy Linh 6-4, 6-1 in the first singles match, while Tran Thi Tam Hao trounced Nguyen Tu Kim Ngan 6-2, 6-0.

HCM City's third title win sets a new national record. The Military team took home silver medals while Da Nang and Kien Giang shared the third place.

The men's team final will take place at 9am today between HCM City 1 and Ca Mau. 

Cyclists prepare for the start of HCM City Television Cup

The HCM City Television Cycling Cup will kick off on Saturday with a new route to mark its 26th year.

Twelve teams will compete across an 11 stage, 1,173km ride from the Southern coastal region to the Central Highlands, finishing in HCM City.

The new routes will include individual time trial rounds in Phan Rang, Da Lat and HCM City and a team time trial stage in Nha Trang.

The winner of the tournament will take home VND60 million (US$2,800), while the winning team will share a VND50 million ($2,400) in cash.

The first stage includes 10 laps around Pham Van Dong Boulevard in HCM City, measuring 54km. The event will finish on April 30.

Golfers teed up to celebrate festival at seniors tournament

Vietnamese master golfers will tee off in the Viet Nam Senior Golf Championship at the Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, to be held on April 18-20.

Golfers will compete among four age groups, playing 54 holes during the three-day competition in celebration of the Hue Festival 2014.

The organising committee also will host a VIP tournament in the afternoons, with the anticipated participation of ASEAN countries' ministers.

"We are very excited and honoured to be part of the Hue Festival programme this year," said director of Golf at Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, Jason Batterham.

"This is the first national golf championship hosted in the province, and we hope this will be a stepping stone for the local development of golf, as well as future major tournaments in Thua Thien-Hue Province."

VNS/VNA/VNN