VN win three bronzes at world aerobics event

Viet Nam won three bronze medals in the age group event at the ongoing World Aerobic Gymnastics Championships and World Age Group competitions from June 23-29 in Cancun, Mexico.

The medals went to Vuong Thua An in the men's individual (15-17 years), Gia Hien in the men's individual (12-14 years) and group of five (15-17 years).

Viet Nam sent 12 gymnasts to compete in the event which attracted nearly 600 athletes from 42 countries and territories.

Tran Thi Thu Ha and Vu Ba Dong are expected to be among the top performers at the event, after sharing the podium at the World Games in Cali, Colombia last year.

Thai referees to judge VN-Myanmar match

The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) has invited Thai referees to monitor a friendly match between Viet Nam and Myanmar early next month.

FIFA-recognised Charitable Mahapab and assistants Thanom Borikut and Chumpol Deeplang will judge the match on July 2 at the Binh Duong Province's Go Dau Stadium.

Mahapad is an experienced referee who has worked in different international tournaments.

In 2011, he refereed a friendly match between Viet Nam and Japan in Kobe. Earlier, he performed in a quarter-final match between Viet Nam and Singapore during the AFF Cup in 2010.

Vietnamese players have been training for the friendly match for three days. Meanwhile, coach Radojko Avramovic of Myanmar yesterday released a list of 20 players who would be travelling to Binh Duong.

The young squad includes two goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and five strikers.

The visitors will arrive in Viet Nam on June 30 and will have two days to practice and get accustomed to the weather and the stadium's field.

The VFF has announced that the tickets for the game, costing between VND50,000 and VND70,000, will be sold from June 28.

Dramatic finale awaits V-League 2

The final round of the V-League 2 (Second Division), the national second-tier football competition, promises a lot of drama with the main prizes still up for grabs.

As the final round kicks off today, three teams – Dong Thap, Khanh Hoa and Ha Noi T&T – are still title contenders, and there are up to five teams, including Dak Lak and Can Tho – in contention for one of the three promotion slots.

Dong Thap, who are leading the table with 23 points, have everything on their side for winning the title when they play Ha Noi, who are three points behind, at home.

A win will see the Mekong Delta football team become the new champion, and with it an automatic promotion to the V-League. In this scenario, Ha Noi's chances of promotion will depend on the result of the match between Can Tho and Dak Lak.

The top two teams in V-League 2 go through to the top-flight V-League, while the third team will face the bottom-ranked one in a play-off match.

A draw can cost Dong Thap the title if Khanh Hoa, who are just one point behind them, win all three points against already-relegated Tay Ninh. Then it will be Khanh Hoa who will win the title and the automatic promotion.

If Ha Noi win, they will leapfrog the home team on the overall rankings table and secure a place in the top-flight V-League.

Khanh Hoa will take title if they win and Dong Thap, who lost 1-0 to Ha Noi in the first leg, will drop to third, meaning that they will have to play against the bottom-ranked team of the V-League in the play-off match for a place in the V-League next season.

In the remaining match of the last round, Hue host HCM City in a match of little significance because both teams are safe from relegation but far too behind to compete for promotion.

Hanoi Moi Newspaper’s run for peace launched

As many as 1,500 people participated in the 41st run for peace launched by Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi) newspaper at My Dinh Indoor Athletics Gymnasium in Hanoi on June 28.

The annual running event is one of the capital city’s key sport activities to celebrate the 69th anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution and National Day (September 2), the 60th anniversary of the city’s Liberation Day, 15th anniversary of UNESCO recognition of Hanoi  as the City for Peace and the 57th anniversary of New Hanoi newspaper’s inaugural daily edition.

The competition aims to promote physical exercise and drive back drug among capital residents. The final round is scheduled to take place in early October this year.