Foreign wrestling experts to be hired; Eight nations for China-ASEAN boxing; Viet Nam triumph at canoe regionals; Top Slovakia striker may join Viet Nam

Viet Nam are hoping to send competitors to the biggest tournaments.

The new coaches will take over training for the men’s and women’s free style teams, and the men’s Greko-Romans team.

The International Wrestling Federation will be organising 40 to 50 championships in 2009. Viet Nam are hoping to send competitors to the biggest tournaments, including the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos, the World and Asian Wrestling Championships and tournaments for Juniors.

Teams will be picked to go to China in 2010 for the 16th Asian Games based on their performances throughout 2009.

Eight nations for China-ASEAN boxing

Eight nations have registered to take part in the first China-ASEAN Boxing Championship taking place in China on December 20-24.

They are: Viet Nam, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and host China.

Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore will not be competing as the sport has yet to takeoff in those countries.

Laos and Japan have not decided.

The first tournament will be held in Nanning Province. Commentators expect about 100 fighters will compete in eight weight categories, ranging from 48kg to 75kg.

Viet Nam triumph at canoe regionals

Viet Nam crushed the competition at the Southeast Asian Canoe and Kayak Championships in Singapore, taking home 19 golds.

The athletes won medals in seven out of eight 200m events in the last day on Monday. Van Long and Thanh Quang both took gold in the men’s canoeing and kayaking singles. Nguyen Thi Mai won the women’s single canoeing.

Team members Quang, Thang, Chi, and Hung came fourth in the men’s quartet kayaing event.

The only losers were the unfortunate duo Nguyen Thi Hoa and Nguyen Thi Duyen whose boat capsised.

The country’s total medal tally included a whopping 19 golds, 13 silvers and six bronze. Host Singapore came a distant second with nine gold, six silver and 20 bronze medals. Third place went to Thailand with seven golds and 12 silvers.

Top Slovakia striker may join Viet Nam

Coveted footballer Emil Le Giang has hinted that he wants to join the Vietnamese national team. Le Giang played with the U17 Slovakia football, team until his one-million-euro transfer to Germany’s Nurenberg club last year.

Seventeen-year-old Le Giang is Slovakia’s most famous striker. He netted 66 goals for Filakovo Club U14s in one season, before stepping up to the U16 Slovakia national team.

He has been head-hunted by Europe’s premier football clubs, including Liverpool, Juventus and Ajax Amsterdam.

Le Giang has already scored 15 goals in his first football season with Nurenburg.

(Source: Viet Nam News)