VN beat Japan at volleyball champs

Viet Nam came from behind to defeat Japan in the opening game of Group C at the 2015 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in Tianjin, China yesterday, May 20.

The team won 3-2 (16-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 18-16).

It is the second time Viet Nam have beaten Japan after the Asian Volleyball Cup in 2012.

Viet Nam will take on Mongolia and Turkmenistan today and tomorrow.

The biennial nine-day event has gathered 16 teams competing in a round robin format in four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals.

At the previous competition in Thailand two years ago, Viet Nam ended up in sixth place overall after losing 2-3 to Kazakhstan, while Thailand crushed Japan 3-0 to claim their second championship, following their first in 2009.

Futsal event for disadvantaged kids to kick off

The 16th Futsal Tournament for Disadvantaged Children will begin on May 26 in HCM City, the event's organising board announced yesterday, May 20.

The organisers of the 16th Futsal tournament for disadvantaged children introduce the jersey, ball, and cup of the event. — Photo tuoitre.vn

Eight teams divided in two groups will participate in the tournament that will conclude on May 30.

After the group round, players will be given a tour of HCM City.

The winning team will receive a cup and VND30 million (US$1,400).

The event's 10 best players will be gifted a tour to Thailand, where they will play a friendly match with U14 Thailand in late June.  

HCM City youngsters swim to victory

HCM City triumphed at the National Junior Age-Groups Swimming Championships which concluded in Ha Noi yesterday, May 20.

The team won 60 golds, 37 silvers and 30 bronzes. National Defence Sport Centre 5 came second with 10 golds, three silvers and six bronzes, followed by Quang Binh with seven golds, 10 silvers and five bronzes.

During the four-day event, 22 national records were broken, of which Nguyen Diep Phuong Tram of HCM City set three and Nguyen Minh Hien set four.

Sendoff held for Vietnamese athletes headed to 28th SEA Games

A sendoff was held on Tuesday in Hanoi for the Vietnam sports delegation making their way to the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, to be held in Singapore from June 5 to 16.

The event was co-held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Olympics Committee and the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, aiming to boost spirits and confidence in the national athletes team ahead of their departure for the Games.

In his remarks, Tran Duc Phan, head of Vietnam’s 28th SEA Games contingent, affirmed that all athletes are now ready for the region’s largest sporting event and will strive to do their best to bring home a number of glorious achievements.

On behalf of the athletes, Que Ngoc Hai, captain defender of the Vietnam U-23 football team, swore an oath to compete with the utmost determination for top results while maintaining the spirit of acquisition and fair-play.

At the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh presented the national flag to Tran Duc Phan and wished the Vietnam sports delegation success and victory at the upcoming Games.

Vietnam will send a team of 570 members – 392 athletes and 178 trainers and experts – to Singapore next month, competing for medals in 28 out of 36 sports. The delegation targets to win between 56 and 70 gold medals and make the overall podium, with ‘golden’ hopes mostly pinned on athletes in athletics, shooting, gymnastics and swimming.

VNS/NhanDan