Viet Nam winds up with two silvers; Thai Namchok wins Benz Masters; Vovinam federation to be set up

Vu Thi Huong won two silvers in the women’s 100m and 200m, while Truong Thanh Hang won two bronze medals in the women’s 800m and 1,500m.

On Saturday, former Asian champion Bui Thi Nhung disappointed fans by only managing to clear the bar at 1.84m to finish fifth in the women’s high jump. Meanwhile, in the four-by-four relay, coached by Duong Duc Thuy, Huong, Nguyen Thi Tham, Le Ngoc Phuong, Do Thi Ly finished fourth.

Thai Namchok wins Benz Masters

Namchok Tantipokhakul completed the finest season of his fledgling career on Saturday by winning the US$80,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Viet Nam and securing the Tour Order of Merit.

The 22-year-old Thai fired a final round of one-over-par 73 to finish one stroke ahead of compatriot Pavit Tangkamolprasert. Pavit came in with a 67 at Kings’ Island Golf Club, north of Ha Noi.

Namchok finished with a four-round-aggregate of 16-under-par 272 and earned a cheque for US$13,000.

Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin, who finished joint third in Viet Nam, ended in second place on the Order with winnings of $17,225.

Kwanchai, winner of the previous event at the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia, carded a 72 to finish five behind the winner along with countryman Atthaphon Prathumanee and Filipino Felix Casas.

Atthaphon came in with a 71 while Casas shot 69.

Host rival Tran Le Duy Nhat played his best in the last round on Saturday with a four-under-par 68 and finished the tournament at three-under-par 285 for 21st place. Fellow countryman Nguyen Van Son played unexpectedly badly with a 12-over-par 300, dropping to 58th place.

Vovinam federation to be set up

The Southeast Asia Vovinam Federation will be set up next May following a Congress to be held at an undecided location, according to the World Vovinam Federation.

The federation will promote the Vietnamese martial art in the region and make efforts to include it in the region’s largest sporting event, the SEA Games.

The WVVF and Asian Vovinam Federation were respectively established in August 2008 and February this year.

At the third Asian Indoor Games that ended in Viet Nam this month, six countries took part in Vovinam.

Master Ida Bagus Wiyan, president of the Indonesian Vovinam Federation, had said on the last day of the vovinam event that he plans to develop the sport in Indonesia, especially in Bali.

The WVVF also said the AVF would organise the first Asian Vovinam Championships next February.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News