Phuong, Truc to compete at Singapore WTA Future Stars

Nguyen Thu Phuong (right) and Tran Thuy Thanh Truc are Vietnamese participants at the WTA Future Stars 2015 in Singapore. — Photo thethaovietnam.vn

Nguyen Thu Phuong and Tran Thuy Thanh Truc will be Viet Nam's representatives at the coming WTA Future Stars 2015 in Singapore.

Phuong will compete in the U16 category, while Truc is in the U14 class.

The tournament, which lures players from 18 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, will be held from October 25 to November 1, the same time as the WTA Finals 2015, which is a year-end event for the world's best eight female athletes.

Phuong and Truc are currently the best Vietnamese tennis players in their age groups.

Liem, Son secure draws at World Cup

Both Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son secured draws in the second round's first leg at the World Cup 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on September 14.

Liem, the 2013 World Blitz Chess Champion who has an Elo rating of 2697, tied with stronger rival Vitiugov Nikita of Russia (Elo 2725), who is world No 32 and seeded 28th.

Meanwhile, Son (Elo 2634) also played outstandingly to draw with world No 13 Tomashevsky Evgeny of Russia (Elo 2758).

Earlier, Liem crushed Vasif Durarbayli of Azerbaijan, and Son drew with Robert Kempinski of Poland in both the first and second legs of the first round.

Vilayphone wins men's petanque title

Vilayphone of Laos won the men's technical shoot category title at the HCM City Open 2015 International Petanque Championship that ended at District 3's Labour Cultural Palace on Sunday.

The women's title was claimed by Tran Le Thanh Thao of Can Tho. Meanwhile, Nghe An won the men's triples and Soc Trang took the lead in the women's event.

The five-day tournament attracted 260 competitors from 30 teams nationwide. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei also sent players to the tournament.

Petanque has become popular in the southern region, and especially in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, over the past few years.

Linh, Trang pocket national table tennis titles

Dinh Quang Linh and Mai Hoang My Trang won the men's and women's titles at the National Table Tennis Championships–Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper Cup.

The tournament ended on September 13 in Can Tho Province.

Linh came from behind to beat teammate Le Tien Dat 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 6-11, 14-12 in the all-Military men's singles final match.

Dat was defeated for the second consecutive year, to become the silver medallist.

On the women's side, Trang of Petrosetco HCM City beat Dinh Thi Hang of Vicem Hai Duong 11-3, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.

The men's team title went to Military, while Trang and her teammates won in the women's category.

Mai Hoang My Trang of Petrosetco HCM City wins the women's title at the National Table Tennis Championships in Can Tho on September 13. — Photo vnexpress.net

It was Trang's third gold medal as she, paired with Le Dinh Duy in the mixed doubles, had earlier defeated defending champions Dao Duy Hoang of Phan Hoang Tuong Giang of the public security ministry.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on September 13, Nhan Dan Deputy Editor-in-Chief Phan Huy Hien said, "More than 500 matches were organised with many surprises taking place during the seven-day competition, which also saw new champions." The national championships, in which nearly 130 players participated, ended with Petrosetco HCM on top, followed by Military and T&T, respectively.

Gia Lai escape relegation battle

Hoang Anh Gia Lai officially secured another season in the V.League1 yesterday with a goalless draw with Dong Tam Long An at home.

Dong Thap also retained their V-League1 status with a 1-1 draw with Can Tho.

After beating Khanh Hoa 1-0 at home yesterday, Dong Nai still needed to find a result in their last game against Quang Ninh yesterday.

Nguyen Hang Tchuko Minh scored the only goal for Dong Nai with a free kick in the 51st minute.

The southern team are in bottom place with 21 points, three points behind Can Tho.

Champions Binh Duong lost 3-1 to Quang Nam at home yesterday.

In yesterday's other matches, midfielder Quoc Trung scored to help Hai Phong beat Thanh Hoa 1-0, while Song Lam Nghe An drew 1-1 with Da Nang at home.

Vo Huy Toan put Da Nang ahead in the second half, but Le The Cuong equalised for Nghe An deep into injury time.

Striker Nguyen Van Quyet scored the only goal for Ha Noi T&T in their game against Quang Ninh at Ha Noi's Hang Day Stadium to keep them second in the table.

Women's futsal aim for semi-final

The Viet Nam national women's futsal team are targeting a semi-final berth at the 2015 Asian Football Confederation Women's Futsal Championships to be held in Nilai, Malaysia, on September 21-26.

Eight teams will be drawn into two groups with the winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-finals.

Indonesia have been removed from the competition due to a FIFA suspension, while Jordan have withdrawn.

Viet Nam are in Group B with Japan, China and Thailand. Group A consists of Iran, Malaysia, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong.

"It is a challenge for Viet Nam in a tournament where they meet strong rivals including Japan and Thailand. However, the team will aim to reach the semi-finals," said head coach Truong Quoc Tuan.

Viet Nam will face Japan on September 21, China on September 22 and Thailand one day later.

In preparation for the event, the squad yesterday left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to train intensively.

They will have two friendly matches against the hosts on Wednesday and Friday.

Before Malaysia, the team had trained for nearly two months in HCM City's Thai Son Nam Gymnasium.

"The team have completed their tactical preparation for the tournament. Their physical strength is improved. All players worked on a disciplined and united formation," said Tuan.

VNS