Three new events for 25th SEA Games; Climbers join in climbing Mount Fansipan; Vietnam to train in China for Merdeka Cup

It is good news for Vietnam, who have good records in these disciplines, said Hoang Vinh Giang, general secretary of Viet Nam Olympics Committee.

Lao Games are expected to feature 25 events.

Climbers join in climbing Mount Fansipan

The number of entrants in the annual National Mountain Climbing Championship “Conquer Mount Fansipan” is expected to be twice that of last year, according to the event’s organisers.

So far 300 athletes from around the world aged 18-45 have registered to climb Fansipan, which is 3,143m high.

The climb, which is also known as the 2008 Viet Nam Airlines Cup, will take place on November 14.

Last year, Nguyen Van Sy and Pham Thi Hien and six climbers from England, Canada and Israel won the men’s and women’s individual and team titles.

Sy, from Thanh Hoa Province, made it to the summit in 1 hour and 53 minutes. Khanh Hoa’s Nguyen Gang Duc Bao reached the top in 2:01.

In the women’s climb, Hien, from Hanoi, reached the summit in 2:15 to win the women’s title.

Fansipan, in Lao Cal Province’s Sa Pa District, is the highest peak in Indochina.

Vietnam to train in China for Merdeka Cup

Vietnam’s Olympic squad will take part in the 40th Merdeka Cup in Malaysia from October 15-25.

In preparation for the event, a 25-member squad led by coach Mai Duc Chung will take part in a 10-day training course in China’s Nanjing Province beginning on October 1.

The Vietnamese team is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on October 13. They will be competing against teams from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and the hosts.

The winning team will receive US$10,000 prize, while the runners-up will get $5,000.

(Source: Viet Nam News)