HA NOI — Five Vietnamese xiangqi (Chinese chess) players are competing with rivals from 143 countries around the world at the second World Mind Sports Games in France.

The Vietnamese competitors include Asian defending champion Nguyen Hoang Lam, Trenh A Sang, Dao Quoc Hung and Cao Phuong Thanh from HCM City and Nguyen Thanh Bao from Ha Noi.

Hung, on four points, is in the second group of the men's individual category, standing behind Xie Jing and Zhang Qiang of China, both with 4.5 points each. Bao is in the third group with three points.

On the women's side, Viet Nam's only female representative is Thanh, who is in fourth position.

Head coach Hoang Dinh Hong said the team had set a target of winning at least one gold medal at the tournament, which would wrap up on August 23.

The five mind sports featured at the Games are bridge, chess, draughts (checkers), go (weiqi) and xiangqi.

At the first event in Beijing four years ago, the Vietnamese team bought home three silver medals and three bronze medals, including two silvers and a bronze for xiangqi and the remainder won in chess. This year the Vietnamese chess team is not competing in France as they are busy at other tournaments. — VNS