24 teams to compete in U15 national football tourney

Twenty four teams will be divided into three groups to compete in the U15 National Football Tournament- 2011 Hyundai-Vinashin Cup.

The qualifying round will take place from July 11-26 to select the seven teams that will play the host Ho Chi Minh City in the final stage on August 7-17.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held a ceremony on June 16 in Ho Chi Minh City to announce Hyundai-Vinashin Shipyard Co, Ltd will be the main sponsor for the event.

Song Cheol Won, CEO of the Hyundai-Vinashin Shipyard Co, Ltd, said his company will continue to sponsor future tournaments in addition to the US$60,000 for this year’s event.

17 delegations compete in national youth weightlifting championships

The national youth weightlifting championships opened at the sports complex in the northern port city of Hai Phong on June 17 and will last until June 21.

The event has drawn the participation of more than 100 athletes from 17 teams across the country.

After the opening ceremony, athletes in the 15-20 year old age group competed in both individual and team events.

The men will compete in 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and over 105kg categories while women will compete in 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg and over 75kg categories.

The tournament aims to choose the best Vietnamese athletes to compete in international championships.

Japan Credit Bureau to sponsor national football team

The overseas branch of Japan’s international credit card dealer, Japan Credit Bureau International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), announced its sponsorship of Vietnam’s national football team, in Hanoi on June 13.

The new sponsor for the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the male caps and the Olympic team has signed a sponsorship contract at a time when the male national team has just chosen a new coach to manage the team and is busy with numerous major competitions such as the World Cup and Seagames.

South Korean to referee Viet Nam-Saudi clash at Olympic qualifiers

South Korean Kim Dong-jin will referee a London Olympics 2012 qualifier between Viet Nam’s national team and Saudi Arabia at Ha Noi’s My Dinh National Stadium next Sunday, according to the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF).

Kim will be assisted by referees Yang Byoung-eun, Lee Jung-min and Kim Sang-woo during the match.

Australian Lennie McGregor will officiate as referee supervisor and Chinese Tu Xiang as match supervisor.

Viet Nam’s Olympic team will also meet Saudi Arabia at an away match on Sunday.

Tickets for the second leg match in Ha Noi will officially go on sale on Monday with prices ranging from VND150,000 (US$7.5), 120,000 ($6), 80,000 ($4) to 50,000 ($2.5).

Asian Athletics Champs loses Huong due to relapsing injury

Top Vietnamese sprinter Vu Thi Huong will not compete at the Asian Athletics Championship due to a relapsing muscle injury, obtained after winning a silver medal at the recent Borsig Athletics Tournament.

Viet Nam will now only be sending eight of its athletes to compete at the Asian event held in Kobe, Japan, on July 7-10.

Huong’s injury will also keep her from competing in September’s World Athletics Championships in South Korea, missing her chance to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Thai Nguyen born athlete won the silver medal in the women’s 100m and the bronze in the 200m event at the 2007 Asian Athletics Championships in Amman, Jordan. She won an additional bronze medal in the 100m and silver in the 200m event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in 2009.

Viet Nam to host Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championships

Viet Nam will host the 2011 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championships, scheduled to kick off in northern Vinh Phuc Province’s Vinh Yen Gymnasium tomorrow.

The event is set to attract the participation of eight teams including Japan’s Kensyokai Red Hearts, Iran’s Perspolise, Indonesia’s Garuda, Thailand’s Chang, the Philippines, China’s Tianjin Bridgestone, Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu and Viet Nam’s Lien Viet Bank.

Teams will compete in a round robin format, the best four going through to the semi-finals and finals.

The annual Asian Volleyball Confederation event will last until June 26.