V.League to start in February

National premier league V.League 1, 2015-16 will begin on February 20, 2016, the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) said.

The V.League 1 will begin on February 20. — File Photo

The event will begin about a month later than usual, as the organisers want to give the U23 players more time to rest after competing in the ASEAN Championship in January.

The young squad are expected to win the gold medal at the ASEAN championship.

The VFF also said the Super Cup match between V.League 1 champions Becamex Binh Duong and National Cup silver medallists Ha Noi T&T will be held on February 14.

The Super Cup match is always the opening game of the season, which will end in September 2016.

The V.League 2 or the First Division will be held from April 9 to August 20. The National Cup will be held from April 2 to September 24.

Tam wins gold at national

Hanoian veteran Trinh Duc Tam won a gold medal in the men's 40km individual time trial of the National Road Race Cycling Championships in Vung Tau City yesterday, Oct 15.

Tam defeated 13 other athletes to win with a time of 51min 48sec.

Young cyclist Huynh Thanh Tung of the Military team took the silver medal with a time of 52.31. HCM City veteran Mai Nguyen Hung won the bronze medal with a time of 54.18.

In the women's 30km individual time trial, Nguyen Thuy Dung brought Binh Duong team a gold medal with a time of 43.17. The silver and bronze medals went to An Giang's Nguyen Thi That and Dong Thap's Vo Bich Lam.

The event, which has attracted the participation of more than 150 athletes, will run until October 20.

Thao retires from competitive running

Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Champion Do Thi Thao has decided to retire from competitive running this year.

SEA Games Champion Do Thi Thao has announced she would retire later this year. — File Photo

Thao, who finished the recent National Athletics Championships early this week with two gold medals, will end her competitive running career at the age of 23.

In the HCM City competition, Thao won the women's 800m and 1,500m events.

At the Singapore SEA Games in June, she pocketed two titles in the same categories.

"I thought carefully before taking this decision. I have shouldered heavy pressure in both my running career and personal life. I want to open a new chapter in my life," Thao, whose contract with Ha Noi will expire by the end of this year, said.

Thao will marry national boxer Truong Dinh Hoang later this month and then will continue her college studies.

"Maybe I will return in the future, but as of now, it is enough for me," Thao said.

Coach Ho Thi Tu Tam of the national team regretted her departure, but said it was her life and decision and nobody could stop her.

Thao's departure will give 20-year-old Vu Thi Ly a chance to represent Viet Nam on middle distance tracks in international competitions.

Ly competed with Thao at the SEA Games and won two silver medals.

Top seeds advance at VN Open

James Duckwork of Australia made a perfect 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Sanam Singh to deny the Indian a place in the second round of the Viet Nam Open-ATP Challenger yesterday (Oct 15) in HCM City.

Duckwork, the No 2 seed will next play countryman and No 8 seed Jordan Thompson, who defeated Chinese Taipei's Huang Liang-chi 6-2, 6-3.

Earlier, No 4 Sakhet Myneni from India beat Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Muneni will play French Tristan Lamsine who won against Hiroyasu Ehara of Japan 6-0, 5-7, 6-2.

The only doubles match yesterday saw No 1 duo Satchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand defeating Spanish Gerard Granollers and Adrian Menendez-MacEtiras 3-6, 6-1, 10-5.

HCM City win National Finswimming Championships

HCM City ranked first at the National Finswimming Championships, which ended in Da Nang on October 14.

The HCM City participants won 11 gold, six silver and four bronze medals.

Ha Noi came second, followed by the hosts.

More than 110 swimmers from 16 cities and provinces participated in the tournament.

The National Swimming Championships start today at the same venue and national idol Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is expected to win several gold medals.

It is the first time in many years that Vien is competing in the national event, as she has been busy with training courses in the United States.

At the last National Sport Games last year, the Military swimmer bagged 18 gold and two silver medals in all the categories she participated in.

Hoang Quy Phuoc of the hosts is also a swimmer to watch out for, and is one of the Vietnamese sportspersons strongly backed to qualify for next year's Summer Olympic Games in Brazil.

HCM City will send their best swimmers, such as SEA Games winners Tran Duy Khoi, Lam Quang Nhat and talented youngster Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen.

The championships, during which 40 sets of medals will be presented, will conclude on October 19.

VNS