The Viet Nam sports delegation aims to finish in the top three at the 26th Southeast Asia Games in Indonesia this year.

According to reports at the Viet Nam National Administration of Exercises and Sports’ end-year meeting, Viet Nam plans to compete in 28 of 41 sports in the Games at Palembang and the capital of Jakarta in November.

The events include track and field, swimming, diving, archery, shooting, badminton, billiards, canoeing/kayak, cycling, boxing, pentaque, fencing, football, volleyball, table tennis, chess, rowing, Vovinam, sepak takraw, pencak silat, taekwondo, judo, karatedo, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu and gymnastics.

Besides the SEA Games, the administration is also focusing on the Olympic qualifications in some major sports such as track and field.

* HCM City sports facility employs new boss

The privately owned Thanh Long Sports Centre, HCM City’s best known sporting facility, has a new boss.

Le Trong Tri, who takes over as chairman from Quach Thanh Lai, said he sees huge potential in the centre which has been become a regular training and stopover place for football teams from all over the country.

The Binh Chanh District-based centre will remain focused on sports and its facilities will be expanded so that it can hold international events in future, he said.

Lai will, however, remain involved with running the place, which has two football pitches, tennis and badminton courts, and a pool.

Built in 2001, it is 60 per cent owned by young seacooking entrepreneur Tri.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News