Sponsorship for beach volleyball

A sponsorship deal worth VND1billion (US$45,000) has been signed for the national beach volleyball team's training and competition costs, including salary, bonuses and nutrition.

The one-year agreement was reached between the PetroVietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution Joint Stock Company and the Viet Nam Volleyball Federation yesterday.

Company general director Nguyen Van Son said his company would help take the Vietnamese beach volleyball team to a new level.

The team will take part in six international tournaments this year including qualifying rounds for both the London Olympics in 2012 and the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this November.

Hai takes third at Telin event

Vietnamese Grandmaster Dao Thien Hai secured third place at the Telin International Chess Tournament in Jakarta on Thursday.

Hai, who won the title at the National First Class Chess Championships last month, gained seven points in nine Swiss rounds after drawing with Grandmaster Torre Eugenio of the Philippines in the last round.

Grandmaster Cerdas Barus of Indonesia grabbed the title with 7.5 points after beating his counterpart, International Master Irwanto Sadikin in the ninth round.

Grandmaster Gagunashvili Merab of Georgia took second place with seven points, defeating International Master Purnama Tirta Chandra of Indonesia.

On the women's side, Grandmaster Karlovich Anastazia of the Ukraine won first place. Second place went to young talent FIDE Master Medina Warda Aulia of Indonesia.

The US$25,000 tournament attracted around 100 chess players from around the world.

VN cyclists train in Da Lat

The national cycling team coached by Tran Van Quyt is training in Da Lat City in Lam Dong Province, in preparation for the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November.

Quyt said the plateau's thin atmosphere would help cyclists develop their stamina.

After the training session, the men's team will take part in the HCM City Television Cup scheduled to be held from April 21-30. Both men's and women's teams will compete in several international events ahead of upcoming Games.

FPT tour to tee off at Ocean Dunes

Ocean Dunes golf club will host the FPT-Binh Thuan Friendship Golf tournament on April 16-18.

It is expected about 80 amateurs will take part in the 18-hole course in the coastal Phan Thiet City, 180km northeast of HCM City. — VNS