Dat wins gold at Vovinam champs; Minh Phuong auctions Suzuki shoes; Record funding for football club; Viet Nam finishes register for players

In the first semi-final of the men’s 48kg category, Duc Trong overtook Thanh Tuan with the same score of 4-1. Trong will meet Dai Nghi in the final match on Sunday.

The tournament will continue with the men’s under-51kg qualifying matches on Sunday.

Minh Phuong auctions Suzuki shoes

Half-back Nguyen Minh Phuong auctioned the Adidas UK7 shoes he wore during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 final to a Japanese businessman. The VND45 million (US$2,500) raised will be donated to Charity.

Phuong presented the shoes to auction winner Nakagawa Hidehiko on Sunday before the match between Dong Tam Long An and T&T Ha Noi at Long An Stadium.

Record funding for football club

The Lilama group and the Song Lam Nghe An football club have reached a VND25 billion (US$1.43 million) sponsorship for the team this season.

Lilama wants to buy the struggling club and turn it into a subsidiary. It has plans to turn the team into one of the top five football teams in Viet Nam within five years.

As part of the deal it has offered Song Lam Nghe An its own training centre, hotel and sports supermarket, similar to a professional football club.

Lilama will not officially absorb the club until next year.

Viet Nam finishes register for players

The roster of players to take part in the first Asian Martial Arts Festival in Thailand has been finalised, announced the Viet Nam Olympic Committee.

Sixty athletes will compete in nine events with an aim to take home four golds.

The festival, which will be held from April 25 to May 3, will be a chance for the team to gain experience and sharpen their skills in preparation for the 25th Southeast Asian Games and the third Asian Indoor Games later this year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News