2011 National Junior Football Tournament kicks off
Nearly 300 athletes from 16 teams nationwide are competing in the final round of the 2011 National Junior Football Tournament, which opened in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak on July 22.

The teams include Dak Lak, Da Nang, Hai Duong, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, PFV, Hanoi, Phu Yen, Tuyen Quang, Gia Lai, Long An, Ninh Thuan, Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh and Quang Ngai.

They are scheduled to play in 31 matches in four groups for the Yamaha Cup on a round robin basis. The two top of each group will then progress to the next round.

The tournament, which will last until July 31, aims to create a useful playing field for children during their summer vacation and to select outstanding players for the national team.

In the opening match on July 22, the hosts Dak Lak lost 1-3 to Da Nang.

Vietnam leave for Qatar World Cup qualifier

The Vietnamese football team left Ho Chi Minh City Wednesday for Doha for the first leg match of a World Cup qualifier against Qatar tomorrow.

Before their departure, the team went through a grueling two-hour training session Tuesday with German head coach Falko Goetz focusing on tactics.

Assistant coach Mai Duc Chung told Tuoi Tre that the players were in good spirits and ready for the match against Qatar, ranked 94, more than 50 places higher than Vietnam.

“They [Qatar] have strong strikers and midfielders, but their defense is modest,” he said.

“So we can hope for a good result.”

The squad plans to have two more training sessions in Qatar before the game on Saturday.

They return to Hanoi Monday for the return leg later next week.

International field to compete in World Vovinam Champs

Around 300 martial artists from 22 countries, including France, Italy, Denmark, Cambodia and Indonesia will take part in the 2nd World Vietnamese Martial Arts (Vovinam) Championships in Ho Chi Minh City from July 28-31.

They will compete for 80 sets of medals in 18 combat and 22 performance events.

The information was released at a press conference, jointly held by the Vietnam Vovinam Federation (VVF), the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on July 21.

The tournament provides a good opportunity for martial artists from Southeast Asian countries to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games in Indonesia.

It also helps promote the sports to international friends.

Vietnam to compete in World Taekwondo Poomsae Champs

The Vietnamese team, led by two coaches: Nguyen Thanh Huy and Le Minh Khuong, flied to Russia on July 22 to attend the 6th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.

The tournament, which is scheduled to open on July 29, will draw the participation of 700 athletes from 70 countries and territories around the world.

Vietnam will compete in 9 events for three age groups (under 18, from 19-30 and above 30).

In the last championships in Uzbekistan, Vietnam won 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals, placed second only to the Republic of Korea. 

PV