Vietnam defeat Qatar in friendly game

Vietnam’s football squad successfully reversed the situation to beat Qatar 2-1 in a friendly match early on October 10 (local time).

The host team Qatar opened the scoring in the 14th minute of the first half. The score was leveled six minutes later by Vietnamese striker Trong Hoang, who also kicked the ball from the corner into the net in the 29th minute.

All Quarter efforts to narrow the gap in the second half were foiled by goal-keeper Thanh Binh.

The match finally ended with a score of 2-1 in favour of Vietnam led by coach Nguyen Van Sy.

The Vietnamese quad is scheduled to meet Al Arabi FC in a friendly match on October 11 before flying to Uzbekistan to play the host team in the 2012 Asian Cup qualifying round on October 15.

Striker Le Cong Vinh, who is currently competing in Japan, will join the Vietnamese squad in a match with Uzbekistan.

Japanese group sponsors Vietnam’s top badminton player

Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh has received sponsorship from Japan’s Kawasaki group for his next ten tournaments.

The Kawasaki group pledged to donate nearly US$47,000 which is equivalent to Tien Minh’s annual salary, and cover travel costs and daily expenses for the Vietnamese player during his next ten international events.

As scheduled, Minh, 31, will attend the first tourney in Denmark later this month in the framework of the Super Series Premier system which attracts the world’s top seeds, such as China’s Chen Long (No.2) and Japans’ Tago (No.4).

In his first round, Minh will face Malaysian rival Chong Wei Feng (world No.17 seed) who lost to the Vietnamese player in three previous matches.

Cuong dominates archery

Nguyen Tien Cuong of Ha Noi won seven gold medals and broke five national records at the National Archery Championships, which ended in the northern province of Phu Tho yesterday.

On the second day of competition, Cuong beat his own record with 1.399 points in the all-round compound bow category.

The next day, he set two new records with 350 points in the 90m compound and 341 points in the 90m compound.

On the last day yesterday, the fourth and fifth record went to Cuong for the 50m compound and team category events.

Ha Noi ended up with 24 golds, 13 silvers and eight bronzes.

The second position went to Soc Trang with two golds, three silvers and three bronzes, while Vinh Long was third with one gold, four silvers and four bronzes.

Nam storms into semis

Defending champion Ly Hoang Nam took a step closer to the final at the national tennis championships after reaching the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lam Quang Tri.

Nam will take on Trinh Linh Giang for a place in the final. Giang pulled off a surprise by downing experienced Tran Thanh Hoang in three sets.

Giang stunned Hoang 6-2 in the first set but Hoang recovered to take the second set 7-6 to force a decider, which Giang took 6-3.

Another title contender Nguyen Hoang Thien is still on course to winning his first national title after thrashing veteran Le Quoc Khanh 6-2, 6-1 to cruise into the last four.

Thien will face Pham Minh Tuan in the other semi-final, who needed three sets to see off Vu Aterm 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.

In the women's singles, top seed Huynh Phuong Dai Trang has yet to drop a set en route to the semi-finals, defeating Pham Thuy Thuong 6-1, 6-0.

Trang will face Phan Thi Thanh Binh, who crushed Dao Minh Trang 6-1, 6-2.

Tran Thi Tam Hao also made it through to the last four with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Nguyen Thi Be Xuyen.

Hao will take on Huynh Phi Khanh in the semi-finals. Khanh caused the shock of the round by stunning last year's runner-up Nguyen Ai Ngoc Van 6-2, 6-3.

There were no surprises in the doubles events as the top seeds sailed through to the next round with comfortable wins.

Tam draws first blood at Vung Tau individual cycling event

Trinh Duc Tam won first place in the men's 30km individual event on the first day of the cycling national championships which kicked off yesterday at the coastal city of Vung Tau.

Nguyen Thanh Tam claimed second place and Le Van Dong third. On the women's side, Nguyen Thi That took first place, followed by Nguyen Phan Ngoc Trang and Nguyen Thuy Dung.

The 26th cycling tournament, which attracts the participation of over 100 male and female cyclists from 10 teams across the country, will last until October 16.

Riders will compete for prizes in nine different events in each category.