Germany helps to train Vietnam’s football coach; HCM City busy with preparations for Asian Games; 2009 swimming-diving national championships closes; Vietnam chase Asian Volleyball title

Hoang Anh Tuan, head coach of the Khatoco Khanh Hoa in the V-league has been selected by the DFB to attend.

The training course, which will grant an A license (the highest of its kind) to coaches, will start from August to September at the Hennef Sports School in Cologne, Germany.

45,000 athletes are trained annually at this world famous school.

HCM City busy with preparations for Asian Games

Ho Chi Minh City is putting the finishing touches to sporting venues for the third Asian Indoor games to be held in Vietnam for the first time from October 30 to November 11, says event organisers.

At a press briefing in HCM City on August 24, Hoang Vinh Giang, deputy head of the organising board, said that 4 competition halls in the city have been built and upgraded while 7 others are being installed with modern facilities scheduled for completion before September 2.

Mr Giang, who is also Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia and General Secretary of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, said that the organisers have worked out plans to make an inspection tour of the venues, carry out fire drills, establish a press centre and organise several pre-Asian Games tournaments.

So far about 4,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches from 41 nations and territories have registered to take part in the event. The athletes will compete in 23 sport events and one performance event.

2009 swimming-diving national championships closes

The 2009 swimming and diving national championships came to a close in the central province of Quang Binh on August 23.

The Quang Binh team won the championship title with 46 golds, 12 silvers and 13 bronzes, followed by the Thua Thien-Hue city and Da Nang teams.

The competition started on August 20, drawing 149 athletes from 14 provinces and cities nationwide.

The athletes took part in 4 age groups in the swimming events and 2 age groups in the diving events with 126 sets of medals up for grabs.

Vietnam chase Asian Volleyball title

Vietnam men’s team will be in the same group with Iran, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and China at the 15th Asian Volleyball Championship in the Philippines from September 26 to October 5.

The championship is expected to attract 20 leading regional teams, who will be divided into four groups. The first and second teams in each group will go through to the quarter-finals.

Coach Nguyen Manh Hung said: “Iran and China are Asia’s top teams, so Vietnam will have little chance of making it through the qualifying round. However, Vietnam can beat Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.”

Vietnam will meet China first, and then Hong Kong, Iran and Sri Lanka.

PV