National Wushu tourney kicks off in Hanoi; 2010 HTV Bicycle Cup attracts 14 strong teams; Vietnamese American signed contract with Binh Duong

Hanoi’s Nguyen Manh Quyen won a gold for the men’s Changquan (long fist) event with 9.75 points. Another Hanoian athlete, Tran Thi Minh Huyen, performed excellently to score 9.52 points and secured a gold for the women’s Taijijian event. This gold medal was shared by Nguyen Thi My Le, from Thai Binh province.

Regarding women’s Changquan, the gold medal went to police martial artist Duong Thuy Vi, who scored up to 9.72 points.

For men’s Nanquan (southern fist), Nguyen Quoc Hoang Nam from Ho Chi Minh City grabbed a gold after his performance gained 9.65 points. In the same event, both female athletes Pham Thi Van (Vinh Phuc province) and Pham Thi Hong Ngoc (Dong Nai province) received 9.42 points to share a gold.

This year’s tournament has attracted nearly 300 male and female martial artists from 31 provinces and cities across the country to compete for 46 sets of medals in such events as Sanshou (combat) and Taolu (demonstration), which comprises Chanquan, Nanquan, Qiang (spear), Gun (staff), and Nandao (southern sabre).

2010 HTV Bicycle Cup attracts 14 strong teams

Fourteen teams, including one from Mongolia, will compete in the 22nd HCM City TV Cup bicycle race scheduled to begin in Hanoi on April 10.

This year’s competition is expected to be very exciting with strong teams like An Giang, Saigon, Vinh Long, Hanoi, the Army team, Military Zone 7, and the Domesco Dong Thap. It is also the first time that foreign cyclists have been able to race for domestic teams.

The tournament will be divided into 17 stages over a total distance of 2,200 km. The first race will take place around Hoan Kiem Lake just after the opening ceremony, and the final stage will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30.

The contest is very demanding as it includes long-distance races of 190-199 km each, through different terrains and climates across the length and breadth of the country. In order to win the Red jersey for the best mountain bike event, the competitors will have to conquer eight passes including Hai Van, Ngoan Muc, Bao Loc, Ca and Ngang.

Apart from the Red jersey, there will be the Blue jersey for whoever winning the most stages, the White jersey for the best young athlete and the Yellow jersey for the overall winner.

Vietnamese American signed contract with Binh Duong

The 24-year-old Vietnamese American, Lee Nguyen, signed a-18 month contract with Vietnamese football club Becamex Binh Duong on March 31.

Nguyen will play for the club during the second phase of the national football championship V-League 2010. He may have a monthly salary of less than US$10,000 a month, the amount he received when playing for Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC.

The midfielder will have the first training session with his new team mates on April 1.

Becamex Binh Duong’s head coach Mai Duc Chung said he has high hopes for Nguyen and said that his appearance in the starting line up will help the club to have more choice in the midfield.

PV