Vietnam advances in FIFA standings

Though Vietnam does not play any international matches in January, it jumps one notch in January’s FIFA standings to 143rd position.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has maintained its third position behind the Philippines (World No 127) and Myanmar (world No129), while Thailand has slid to 148th position globally.

Elsewhere in Asia, Iran takes the lead, closely followed by Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Vietnam comes in 25th.

Top 25 positions remain unchanged as there have been no national team clashes in the past months.

Spain retains its No1 standing, then come Germany and Argentina in second and third positions.

Next month’s FIFA standings will be announced on February 13.

Vietnamese hopeful Ly Hoang Nam was knocked out of the ITF Copa Gatorade 2014 in Venezuela after outplayed by stronger Luz Orlando of Brazil in the first semi-final match on January 18.

Orlando overwhelmed in the first set, but Nam gave an impressive performance in the second, equalizing the scoring.

In the decisive set, the Brazilian player, world No59, showed off his international experience, defeating Nam, world No 75, 7-5 to enter the final match.

This is the first time Nam has qualified for the semi-finals of a junior ITF tournament.

He will fly back to Vietnam to join the national team in preparation for Asia-Pacific Davis Cup II 2014. Vietnam will play Pakistan in their opening game in the Central Highland resort city of Da Lat on February 14.