Banned Linh asks for lighter penance; Asian Vision chips in $20,000; Wushu champs draw 30 teams; VN ‘dancesport’ quest slated for May

Nguyen Thi My Linh

Banned Vietnamese body builder Nguyen Thi My Linh has asked for her one-year punishment to be shortened so she can compete in the Asian Bodybuilding Championships in South Korea in June.

Two-time Asian champion Linh was banned from competition for a year when her urine test revealed banned substances at the Asian champs in Hong Kong last June.

So far the Asian federation hasn’t given an answer, nor has it announced the schedule for the championship.

The national bodybuilding team will begin training for the competition on March 1.

Asian Vision chips in $20,000

Long An football development will be given a further shot in the arm with US$20,000 from the Asian Vision programme, coming on the eve of the region’s football championships.

The vision programme was formed by the Asian Football Confederation to develop football on the continent. It sees Long An as one of its bright stars.

The Long An Football Federation has already benefited from Asian Vision funding for its establishment and development in 2005 and 2006.

Since then Long An has organised provincial football championship with the participation of 13 teams, held student football tournaments and created an obvious advance in local football.

The provincial football championship will open tomorrow.

Other areas chosen for the Asian Vision programme are Nghe An, Ha Noi and HCM City.

Wushu champs draw 30 teams

The National Wushu Championships, which are expected to draw more than 30 teams nationwide, will take place from March 28 to April 5 at HCM City’s Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium.

Martial artists will compete for 36 sets of medals in two events: taolu (performance) and shanshou (combat).

VN ‘dancesport’ quest slated for May

The Viet Nam Dancesport Open Tournament will be held in Ha Noi in May.

Organisers hope the event will attract domestic and international competitors.

The sport has existed for many years in Viet Nam, especially in Ha Noi, HCM City and the northern port city of Hai Phong.

VietNamNet/VNS