Vietnamese fencers dominate at SEA Champ; VN Taekwondo team eyes medal; Da Nang take BTV Cup; International veterans visit Viet Nam; Minh takes money prize from Viet Nam Open

Viet Nam’s taekwondo team will invite foreign coaches to help achieve ambitious targets set for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010 and the 2012 London Olympics.

Poor results at the recent Asian Games in South Korea and the Qatar and Olympic Games in Athens and Beijing have spurred the new drive to up results.

Tran Hieu Ngan took the first Olympic silver in the women’s under-57kg in Sydney in 2000.

Da Nang take BTV Cup

V-League team SHB Da Nang lifted the International Binh Duong Television (BTV) Cup after beating hosts Binh Duong 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs at the final at Go Dau Stadium on Sunday.

The match went to penalty kicks after a full time score of 4-4.

Da Nang took prize money of $20,000. Binh Duong, winner of two national championship between 2007-08, came second.

Brazil’s Matsubara - last year’s winners - came third, winning $5,000 in prize money.

International veterans visit Viet Nam

Fifty veterans from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, the US and Viet Nam have gathered in HCM City for the first Tennis Championship for International Veterans, held on December 8-12.

The veterans will visit historical sites and meet local southern veterans associations.

The sport and cultural activities aim to increase mutual understanding and strengthen friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam Veterans Associations and international veteran organisations.

Minh takes money prize from Viet Nam Open

Top-ranked Nguyen Tien Minh took over US$6,000 in prize money and donations for his outstanding performance at the Yonex Sunrise Open Badminton Championship in HCM City on Sunday.

Minh was presented with VND10 million ($580) by former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who is now chairman of the Viet Nam Badminton Federation.

Robot Company, sponsors of the International Badminton tournament - Robot Cup in HCM City, awarded the Beijing Olympian $1,000 in recognition of his performances this year.

Minh is the first Vietnamese badminton player in history to compete at the Olympics.

(Source: Viet Nam News)