Clubs in danger zone face tough weekend

Clubs in the battle to avoid falling to the bottom of the rankings will come up against a brick wall this weekend as they will have to seek points against strong teams.

There are three teams in the ranking danger zone, with only two points separating them.

Rock-bottom Dong Tam Long An with 11 points is likely to remain rooted to the bottom of the table as they will have to travel to Vinh Stadium of the leading team SLNA, which wants to cement its place at the top.

Other strugglers, Ha Noi ACB with 13 points and Vicem Hai Phong with 13 points, do not have much chance to get full points.

Although playing at home, it will be difficult for Ha Noi ACB to beat fourth-place Lam Son Thanh Hoa, which has performed well in away games, pocketing five points out of three matches.

Meanwhile, Hai Phong has a difficult away game against Khanh Hoa, which has not won in four previous matches and are falling down the table. The host team badly needs a win to keep them away from the relegation zone.

Hoa Phat Ha Noi and Ninh Binh also risk the possibility of falling back to the danger zone if they fail to get points today.

The task of getting three points is not easy for Hoa Phat Ha Noi and Ninh Binh, whose ability to match their opponents, Ha Noi T&T and Binh Duong, is in doubt.

Hoa Phat Ha Noi defeated defending champion Ha Noi T&T 2-0 in the early derby yesterday.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Navibank Sai Gon also needs points this round, but once again they are up against it, facing title contender SHB Da Nang and tough home team Dong Thap, respectively.

Chess master Nguyen tops women’s Elo rating in VN

Pham Le Thao Nguyen became the highest Elo-rated player in Vietnam ’s women’s division after she won a silver at the recent Asian Individual Chess Championships in Mashhad in Iran .

With the Asian silver medal, Nguyen added 25 points to take her total Elo rating to 2350. Following Nguyen is Le Thanh Tu (2344), Hoang Bao Tram (2318), Nguyen Thi Thanh An (2291) and Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (2223).

At present, Vietnam ’s women chess ranks second Asia, only behind China.

Soc Trang tops Mekong Delta petanque championship 2011

Soc Trang came out on top with four gold, four silver and six bronze medals at the 2011 Mekong Delta Petanque Championship which concluded in the southern province of Soc Trang on May 17.

Tra Vinh ranked second with four golds, three silvers and six bronzes, followed by Dong Thap with three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The week-long tournament attracted 76 players from five cities and provinces including Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap, Can Tho and hosts Soc Trang.

The players competed in men’s and women’s individual, doubles, mixed doubles, triples and team events.

An Giang tops Mekong Delta pencak silat championship 2011

An Giang won the 4th Mekong Delta pencak silat Championship 2011 which wrapped up in the southern province of An Giang on May 16.

Tien Giang placed second, followed by Ca Mau in third.

The four-day tournament attracted 125 martial artists from seven cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Vinh Long, Ca Mau and Tien Giang. The atheletes competed in 22 weight categories in both men’s and women’s demonstration and combat events.

VNS/ND/VNA