Minh set for a busy year; Ha Noi to host youth games; Bonuses for Ninh Binh medallists

Nguyen Tien Minh.

This US$300,000 event belongs to the Super Serie system of the International Badminton Federation, so its awarding points for the event’s top players will be quite high.

The event will attract the world’s leading players, such as Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark, China’s Chen Jin and Bao Chunlai and South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan.

Minh, the world’s No 11 player, is considered seed No 6 at the event. The draw will be held next Tuesday in Seoul.

In preparation for South Korea event, Minh decided to withdraw from the National Top Badminton Player Championship, which kicked off in Lang Son Province.

With only two-days off from the South Korea Open, Minh will continue to compete in the Malaysia Open, alongside other names, including Olympic champion Lin Dan of China, Simon Santoso and Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia and Denmark’s Jorgensen Jan O.

Ha Noi to host youth games

The 14th Asian Youth Athletics Championship will be held in Ha Noi’s My Dinh Stadium from July 1-4, according to the Viet Nam Athletics Federation (VAF).

The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) handed over authority for the VAF to organise this event after the VAF successfully held the third round of the Asian Grand Prix 2008, the Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championship 2009 and the third Asian Indoor Games.

VAF estimated that the expenses for event will be around VND5 billion (US$277,000), part of which will be supported by the AAA.

VAF is expected to be the host of one of the continent’s most important events, the Asian Athletics Championship.

This year’s tournament will attract Asia’s young talents from the ages of 18-20 to take part in 44 different events.

Bonuses for Ninh Binh medallists

The northern province of Ninh Binh’s leaders awarded their Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medallists in Laos on Tuesday.

Both Nguyen Dinh Cuong and Truong Thanh Hang won two gold medals each in the recent SEA Games. They received a bonus of VND25 million (US$1,390) for every gold medal.

Cuong and Hang will also receive cash prizes from the National Sports Administration.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News