National focus

(01-10-2009)

Viet Nam teams to target Cambodia cup victories

Two Vietnamese football teams will vie for the Cambodia Royal Cup and a prize of US$20,000 from November 8-13. The runners-up will take $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Vissai Ninh Binh will take part at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hu Sen and Cambodian Football Federation chairman Sao Sokha.

They will compete against the Cambodian and Lao U-23 teams.

The event was planned to help strengthen the countries’ solidarity and friendly co-operation and to mark the 56th anniversary of Cambodia’s National Day.

Cars and cash to be won at Toyota VIP golf tournament

The Toyota Golf Tournament for the company’s club members and VIP customers will open in two zones with total prize money over VND2 billion (US$111,000).

The first competition will take place at Long Thanh Golf Course on October 17 in Dong Nai Province and the second will be at Phoenix Golf Course in Hoa Binh Province on October 31.

This year’s special prize will be a Fortuner V car and for the hole-in-one a Camry 3.5Q.

Women’s football team to visit Japan for SEA Games warm-up

The national women’s football team has changed the date of its visit to Japan to gear up for the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos, the organising board said.

It will now train in Japan on November 8-16 instead of November 1-8.

The dates were changed so the Japan Football Federation could organise friendly matches with the Viet Nam team on November 10, 12 and 14.

After two weeks training in Tam Dao, 70km west of Ha Noi, the team has now returned to tactics training in the northern province of Ha Nam.

Before flying to Japan, the team will take part in the International Women’s Football Open from October 16-23 in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Meanwhile, the team management reports half-back Nguyen Minh Nguyet has recovered from a poisonous snake bite and will be available to compete at the international open.

HCM City retain national Vovinam leadership

HCM City martial artists won 13 gold, four silver, and six bronze medals to successfully defend their title at the Vovinam National Championship that wrapped up on Tuesday at the city’s Military Zone 7 Stadium.

The Army retained its second position with five golds, six silvers, and seven bronzes, while An Giang edged past Can Tho City to take third place by bagging four gold, three silver, and one bronze medals.

HCM City’s head coach Nguyen Tan Thinh said the quality of this year’s tournament was considerably higher, with the gulf between teams narrowing, especially in combat events.

Thinh said the national team would assemble today to prepare for the Asian Indoor Games that Viet Nam hosts from October 30 to November 8.

Master Vo Danh Hai, general secretary of the Viet Nam Vovinam Federation, said the electronic scoring system would be applied at the Asian Indoor Games.

"The system will ensure fairness and objectiveness. It also helps audience easily follow the sport," he added. — VNS