Taekwondo artists go abroad
The national youth taekwondo team will enjoy a one-month training course abroad to prepare for the Youth Olympics 2010’s qualifiers in Mexico this March.
The destination has not been named but it is likely to be China or South Korea.
Following the training course, the 10-member team, five of whom are female, will be reduced to six, who will then compete in Mexico.
The main event will take place in Singapore later this year.
“It is the first time Viet Nam will have taken part in this event,” said Vu Xuan Thanh, head of the taekwondo department of the National Sports Administration. “Apart from South Korea, where the sport began, China and Chinese Taipei are strong,” he said.
“It will not be easy for us to win a birth in Singapore,” he said.
Liem, Son makes world top 20
Vietnamese young chess masters Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son have make it back into the world top 20 young players, according to the latest figures from the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Liem won the Viet Nam, India and China opens last year. Earlier, he pocketed a team gold and a silver medal at the third Asian Indoor Games in Viet Nam last November.
Liem is also among the world top 100 adult players in January’s rankings.
Marathon returns to capital
The Tien Phong newspaper marathon will return to Ha Noi this year after travelling south for the last few editions.
The annual tournament, this year around Hoan Kiem Lake, will kick off in March.
Among the strongest competitors will be defending champion Pham Thi Hien, SEA Games participant Truong Thanh Hang and Pham Thi Binh.
On the men’s side, leading contenders will be former champ Nguyen Chi Dong, veteran Nguyen Van Sy and Nguyen Dang Duc Bao.
VFF to fine players for faking it
Players who deliberately waste time during football matches will be subject to heavy fines, according to the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF).
Under the new regulation, which comes into effect this season, players face fines of up to VND3 million (US$160) and match bans if they feign injury or participate in other ungentlemanly conduct.
The VFF said fines for yellow and red cards would also be raised. — VNS