Minh ousted from quarter-finals
Viet Nam's only hope at Badminton Asia Championship Nguyen Tien Minh succumbed to Chinese Du Pengyu in their quarter-final match yesterday in Chengdu City, China. Despite beating Du in both their previous meetings, fourth-seeded and world No 7 Minh could not repeat the performance and lost in two straight sets 21-15, 21-17.
World No 11 and sixth-seeded Du snatched four points in succession to establish a command in the first set.
In the second set Minh took an early lead but allowed Du to level the score at eight before suffering losing his first match in three recent meets.
Indonesian top seed makes final
Indonesia's top-seeded Sunu-Wahyu Trijati will take on Cambodian second seed Kenny Bun in the final of the 2011 Tanimex Cup tennis tournament today.
In Tan Binh District, HCM City, Trijati defeated third-seeded Pongsiri Niroj of Thailand 6-4, 6-3 in one semi-final yesterday while Bun downed Viet Nam's top player Do Minh Quan 6-4, 6-1 in the other.
In the doubles event, the home nation's Le Quoc Khanh and Ngo Quang Huy overcame Thai second seeds Grittaboon Prahmanee and Pongsiri Niroj 7-5, 6-2 in the semi-final.
Khanh and Huy will face Indonesia's top-seeded Aditya Hari Sasongko and Sunu-Wahyu Trijati who beat another Vietnamese pair Bui Thai Luan and Do Minh Quan 6-4, 6-3 in the last four.
With Indonesians making it to the finals of both events, a repeat of last year's scenario, when they swept the titles, is possible.
Viet Nam to host Asian U-19s
Viet Nam has been assigned to host the Asian Football Confederation's U-19 Football Championship qualifiers from October 31 to November 8.
The hosts, who have drawn in group F with North Korea, Myanmar, Malaysia and Laos, will meet Malaysia in the opener in HCM City.
As scheduled, 39 teams will play in a round robin format in six groups.
The two top teams will qualify for the championship to be held in Myanmar, September 8-20
"Hosting the qualifiers is an advantage for Viet Nam but it's also a pressure," said team coach Trieu Quang Ha".
"North Korea are favourites in the group. We have to tussle against Malaysia and Myanmar for the second place."
The team plans to start training in July.
Coal and Minerals draw with Ha Noi
Viet Nam Coal and Minerals drew with Ha Noi Trang An 2 1-1 in the fourth match of the first leg of the National Women's Football Championship in the northern province of Ha Nam on Thursday.
Coal and Minerals opened the scoring in the 41st minute, with Ha Noi Trang An 2 levelling four minutes into the second half.
With nine points, Phong Phu Ha Nam currently lead the ranking table, followed by Ha Noi Trang An 1 and Viet Nam Coal and Mineral with seven and six points, respectively.
The first leg of the tournament takes place from April 9-27, with the second leg scheduled for July 2-20.
Golfer offered free coaching
Golfers will receive free coaching in the first two weeks of next month at the My Dinh golf driving range in Ha Noi, the course management board announced.
The 3.5ha golf driving range, which began construction last year with an investment of VND70 billion (US$3.3 million), will issue its 100 membership cards on Monday.
The course has 108 lanes for golfers to practise their swing at the 300-yard long golf centre. — VNS