Vietnam win berth in Sudiman

The Vietnamese team.

Viet Nam won a berth to compete in the Badminton World Federation's Sudirman Cup's Level 2 next year after beating Czech 3-0 yesterday in China.

Duong Bao Duc and Thai Thi Hong Gam opened the day with a 16-21, 21-19, 21-15 victory over Alzbeta Basova and Jakub Bitman in the mixed doubles match.

World No 29 Nguyen Tien Minh had no difficulty in defeating Petr Koukal 21-6, 21-12 in the men's singles match in nearly 30 minutes.

Vu Thi Trang sealed the victory for her team by trouncing Zuzana Pavelkova 21-12, 21-12 during the women's singles.

The Sudirman Cup is the world mixed team championship that takes place every two years.

There is no prize money for the Sudirman Cup, as players compete for their respective countries and to earn world ranking points and national prestige.

Military take men's team tennis

Military beat Da Nang 3-0 to win the men's title of the National Team Tennis Championships, which wrapped up in Hue City yesterday.

Military's Huynh Chi Khuong came from behind to defeat Le Khac Tung Lam of Da Nang 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 during the first singles match.

Pham Minh Tuan has brought the series to 2-0 after a 6-0, 6-1 win over Tran Hong Anh Khoa in the second singles.

Khuong and Nhut Hong then defeated Tuan and Vo Van Ton 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles match.

The championships found some 50 athletes competing from nine men's and five women's teams beginning May 13.

Nhan takes his first cycling stage

Tran Nguyen Duy Nhan sprinted at the end to win the sixth stage of the Return to the Countryside cycling tournament yesterday, his first time coming in as the day's leader.

Nhan, of Military Zone 7, took 2hr 17.31min to bike the 92km distance from Can Tho City to Tra Vinh City.

He was followed by Nguyen Huu Tien of Vinh Long and Nguyen Anh Khoa of Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang.

As of yet, Nguyen Hoang Giang, also of Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang, has no rival to his overall lead position.

Giang sits on top with a comfortable time of 14:05.21. Phan Tuan Vu of Can Tho and Pham Minh Triet of Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang sit in second and third, respectively.

The top three in team ranking also remain unchanged with Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang leading, and An Giang Plant Protection and Vinh Long following.

The seventh stage, from Vinh Long City to Kien Tuong Town, is longer with 113km of road to travel.