VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam lost to Russia in the first round of the Women's World Chess Team Championship on Sunday in Turkey.

Photo: Internet
Grand masters Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Hoang Thi Bao Tram and Nguyen Thi Thanh An drew their matches with Kosintseva Nadezhda, Kosintseva Tatiana and Kosteniuk Alexandra, while Hoang Thi Nhu Y lost to Gunina Valentina.

The players will compete with rivals from India, Russia, Armenia, Greece, Georgia, South Africa, China, Ukraine and the host nation in a round-robin format.

Thanks to their gold medal at the Asian Women Team Chess Championship in 2009, Viet Nam have a second chance to participate in the event. In 2007, the team finished seventh.

The event will run until December 28.

* Viet Nam comes third in Asian petanque

The Vietnamese petanque team finished in the third place at the 15th Asian petanque championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand, yesterday, Dec 19.

The Thai team led the medal tally with two golds, one silver and six bronzes. Viet Nam won a gold, one silver and two bronze medals, while the Cambodian team finished with two gold and two bronze medals.

Huynh Cong Tam won the gold medal in the men's singles event, while Tran Thi Phuong Em came third in the same event for women.

The women's team – consisting of Phan Thi Thuy Diem, Phan Thi Anh Hong and Nguyen Thi Truc Mai – took the silver medal, while the men's team, — consisting of Danh Saphal, Thach Huu Tam and Thach Duong – took the bronze medal.

The four-day event was organised by the Asian Petanque and Sports Boules Confederation.

* Wrestling team to take part in Olympic qualifier

Vietnamese wrestlers are set to take part in the Asian Olympic preliminary round from March 30 to April 1 next year in Kazakhstan. The champion and runner-up in each weight division will qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.

The male squad will compete in the lightweight divisions while the female team will participate in the 48kg, 55kg and 63kg freestyle categories. Among the hopefuls are 16th Asian Games runner-up Nguyen Thi Lua, and 26th SEA Games champion and runner-up Tran Thi Dieu Ninh and Duong Thi Lan. The athletes will gather at a training centre to train and learn tactics.

The wrestlers will also take part in the world Olympic preliminary third round from April 27-29 in Taipei and compete in the fourth round from May 4-6 in Finland.

The World Wrestling Federation is expected to publicise a list of 266 men and 72 women who have qualified for the Olympics in June. The Vietnamese team targets at least one ticket to London next year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News