Hanoi hosts International Judo Tournament

Twelve teams from Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Indonesia and France will began competing at the 2012 Hanoi International Judo Tournament on May 19.

They are divided into eight different weight categories for both men and women.

The tournament has been organised by Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to mark the 122nd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday.

The event is a good opportunity for the Vietnamese team to gain more experience in the international arena and select the best martial artists for national and international competitions.

Korean firm sponsors Vietnam’s Taekwondo team

CJ Group of the Republic of Korea (RoK) has provided sponsorship for the Taekwondo team’s overseas training in preparation for the coming Summer Olympics in London.    

A contract between the two sides was signed in Hanoi on May 17 by representatives from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, the Korean Culture Centre and CJ Group.

This is part of activities to promote the time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and the RoK, especially in culture and sports.

Under the contract, Vietnam will send a five-member delegation for a two-month training course in the RoK. CJ Group will cover all expenses, including travel costs, accommodation and fees for trainers.

The Korean firm also pledged to grant bonuses to Vietnamese Taekwondo martial artists if they win medals at the world’s largest sporting event.

The Vietnamese delegation coached by Korean expert Kang Nam Won was scheduled to leave for the RoK on May 18.

Shaky T&T coach to be tested

Coach Phan Thanh Hung's skills will be under the scanner when Ha Noi T&T plays Navibank Sai Gon at HCM City's Thong Nhat Stadium in an 18th round V-League match tomorrow.

Football fans are waiting to see how Ha Noi T&T respond after the club was thrashed 6-2 by defending champions Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) right on their home turf on Monday.

The match also provides an occasion for fans to see how Hung, in the running for the position of coach of the national team, can assemble an efficient team without some key players like defender and captain Cristiano Roland and playmaker Cao Sy Cuong.

The task is made more difficult for Hung and his players because Navibank has been playing well at home recently, enjoying an unbeaten streak of seven games, including five wins.

Ha Noi T&T are leading the V-League table with 33 points, just three points ahead of second placed Sai Gon FC. A loss can cost them their first place.

At another match today, defending champions SLNA, who are on fifth place with 25 points but play one match less than other teams, will take on second team Sai Gon.

Both teams returned to the title race after wins last week and the match will be even but SLNA have the home advantage.

Tomorrow, Kien Giang will host Dong Thap in a Mekong Delta derby that are crucial for both teams. The winner can move further away from relegation zone.

Second-bottom team Ninh Binh will travel to Ha Noi FC's Hang Day Stadium while bottom-placed Hai Phong will take on strong team SHB Da Nang at Lach Tray.

Minh Quan progresses to semis

Top player Do Minh Quan of Tanimex HCM City defeated the Military team's Tran Hoang Anh Khoa 6-1, 6-2 in the singles event at the national men's tennis championships in Binh Dinh Province on Thursday.

Ly Hoang Nam of Becamex Binh Duong will compete against Quan in the semi-finals after beating Bui Thai Luan of Tanimex HCM City 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals.

The other semi-final will be contested between Hoang Thanh Trung of Binh Dinh and Pham Huu Vinh of Tanimex HCM City. Trung overcame Pham Minh Tuan of Da Nang 6-3, 7-6 and Vinh luckily advanced to the next round after Le Quoc Khanh of Tanimex HCM City retired due to a stomachache, despite leading in the first set.

Coal and Minerals down leaders

Ha Noi Trang An 1 were defeated 0-1 by Viet Nam Coal and Minerals in the second round of the national women's football championships at Ha Nam stadium on Thursday, losing their top spot to their rivals.

Ha Noi took the initiative but could not convert their opportunities into goals. Viet Nam Coal and Minerals looked dangerous on the counter-attack, and converted one break in the 52th minute thanks to a goal from Le Thi Hoai Thu.

Viet Nam Coal and Minerals have replaced Ha Noi at the top of the leader board with 13 points.

Men's team win first round

Viet Nam's men's chess team defeated South Korea 4-0 in the first round of the Asian Nations Cup in China on Thursday.

Le Quang Liem, Dao Thien Hai, Nguyen Duc Hoa and Nguyen Van Huy defeated Jose Camacho Collados, Lee Sang-hoon, Munkhbat Chogdov and Kim Chang-hoon.

They will next compete against Iran.

In the women's event, Viet Nam lost to Iran 1.5-2.5 in the first round.

Pham Bich Ngoc was the only player to emerge victorious after defeating Shayesteh Ghader Pour 1-0.

They will next compete against Singapore.

The tournament will wrap up on May 27. The winning team in the women's event will qualify for the World Women's Team Chess Championships in 2013 in Turkey.-