Thai Group signs sponsorship deal with VN national teams

The Thailand-based Grand Sport Group has signed a five year agreement to sponsor Viet Nam's national football teams.

The company will provide kits and equipment for training and competitions from 2015 to 2019. However, the national men's squad will wear their new shirts at the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup which starts on Saturday in Ha Noi.

Viet Nam Football Federation General Secretary Le Hong Anh hailed the deal and said it would help them perform successfully at the bienniel tournament.

The national volleyball and sepak takraw teams will also be sponsored by Grand Sport.

Grand Sport has been around for more than 50 years and has experience in working with sports organisations, clubs and teams in many countries.

Future in doubt for young cyclist following horrific crash

Cyclist Nguyen Thi Tha may have to retire at the age of 19 because of multiple injuries.

Doctors said that her injuries are very serious, making it difficult for her to return to competition.

Tha, from An Giang Province, fell down during the women's mass start event at the National Games on Sunday. She has suffered four broken ribs and a damaged kidney, while her liver and spleen are bruised.

The cycling event finished with Tha's sister and Asian Games silver medallist Nguyen Thi That taking the gold medal.

Injured Chau to miss AFF match on Saturday

Midfielder Nguyen Minh Chau of Viet Nam suffered a knee ligament injury yesterday, while training at the My Dinh Stadium in Ha Noi.

Chau, one of the five players who contributed towards Viet Nam's only AFF Cup win in 2008, was injured while competing for the ball with teammate Vu Minh Tuan. Chau needs at least two weeks to recover, according to team's doctors.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) -Suzuki Cup's Group A matches will be kicked off this Saturday, with Viet Nam playing Indonesia. This means that Chau will not be able to play in the match.

Viet Nam's coach Toshiya Miura will announce his final list of players on Friday.

Truc makes muay thai final at Asian Beach Games

Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc of Viet Nam is through to the muay thai final of the women's 48kg category at the ongoing Asian Beach Games in Thailand.

Truc beat Wu Hoi Yan of Hong Kong 5-0 in the semi-final yesterday. She will fight Azmi Ayu Arynafaiza of Malaysia in the gold medal match.

In the football event, Viet Nam overcame Oman 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the semi-finals of the men's competition.

The two sides were locked at 3-3 after 90 minutes.

Their rivals today will be Japan who trounced China 7-3.

In volleyball, Nguyen Trong Quoc/Nguyen Thanh Vinh beat Sin Khlork/Lim Samat of Cambodia 21-17, 21-19 in the men's preliminary round in Group B.

In the women's event, Tran Thi Trong/Ngo Vo Thanh Loan lost 16-21, 12-21 to Utama Putu Dinin Jasita/Juliana Dhita of Indonesia.

In handball, the Vietnamese men beat Japan 21-8, 21-20 in the preliminary round of Group A while the women were defeated 4-19, 14-16 by Chinese Taipei.