VN’s Olympic team wins friendly football tournament

The nation's Olympic team won a four-team international friendly
tournament with a convincing 2-0 win over Olympic Iran in the
tournament's final match at Thong Nhat Stadium on Oct. 2.

Striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who received a red card in the second half,
opened scoring with a header at the stroke of half-time. Substitute
Hoang Dinh Tung settled the match with a precise finish after beating an
offside trap.

The Olympic team receive a trophy and a
cash prize of 20,000 USD while Iran, at second place in the
tourney, get 10,000 USD. Olympic Singapore ranked third, followed by
Malaysia.

"Although this was a friendly tournament, the
victory will boost our players in the Asian Games in Guangzhou next
month," said Phan Thanh Hung, coach of Hanoi T&T.

Hung was assigned by national team coach Henrique Calisto to lead the Olympic team in this tournament.

"After three matches, many weaknesses were revealed, but I'm satisfied
with the players' fighting spirit, especially that of the new players
who made a considerable contribution to the victory," said Hung/.

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Olympic team wins friendly

Relishing the moment: Olympic team players celebrate their victory in a four-team international friendly tournament. — VNS Photo Tien Thanh

HCM CITY — The nation's Olympic team won a four-team international friendly tournament with a convincing 2-0 win over Olympic Iran in the tournament's final match at Thong Nhat Stadium on Saturday.

Striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who received a red card in the second half, opened scoring with a header at the stroke of half-time. Substitute Hoang Dinh Tung settled the match with a precise finish after beating an offside trap.

The Olympic team receive a trophy and a cash prize of US$20,000 while Iran, at second place in the tourney, get $10,000. Olympic Singapore ranked third, followed by Malaysia.

"Although this was a friendly tournament, the victory will boost our players in the Asian Games in Guangzhou next month," said Phan Thanh Hung, coach of Ha Noi T&T.

Hung was assigned by national team coach Henrique Calisto to lead the Olympic team in this tournament.

"After three matches, many weaknesses were revealed, but I'm satisfied with the players' fighting spirit, especially that of the new players who made a considerable contribution to the victory," said Hung. — VNS

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Sports kept me out of trouble: Olympic champion

Vietnamese weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan

Photo: Tuoi Tre

2010 Youth Olympic Games weightlifting champion Thach Kim Tuan, 16, talked to Tuoi Tre last week about his humble beginnings and how the athletic career enabled him to help his family and stay off the streets.

Did you expect you were going to get a gold medal ahead of the games?

I thought I could clinch a bronze as, you know, Olympic Games always attract many strong opponents.

So, I was very surprised and extremely happy to win the gold [after conquering the men’s 56kg clean and jerk event with 256kg at the August 13-26 Youth Olympic Games].

Can you tell us about your life?

I dropped out of school when I was in the sixth grade and started training in weightlifting five years ago.

I was recruited in the national team and began earning a monthly salary of VND750,000 (US$39.5). I gave it all to my eldest sister to care for our family of four.

[Tuan was one of 4 brothers and sisters born in the central province of Binh Thuan into a family of very humble means. He lost his parents when he was 3 and the four moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work as street vendors.]

I’ve given weightlifting my best and I don’t regret leaving school early as I was able to help my brothers and sister.

In addition to the gold medal in Singapore, a gold and two silvers at the Junior Asia Championships in the United Arab Emirates and three silver medals at the Junior World Championships in Thailand last year, these competitions earned me a combined VND300 million ($15,800) in cash prizes.

I give my sister my entire current salary of VND11.25 million ($592) a month to save to buy a house in the city.

[The champion and three of his brothers and sisters are now living in a rented house].

What are your current goals?

I want to return to school and improve my academic skills to better comprehend sports lessons as I am planning to become a weightlifting coach later.

I also want more victories at higher tournaments in the world as the Asian Olympic Games and the World Olympic Games.

What lesson has life taught you?

I think I am lucky that sports kept me out of trouble. Many children with similar family circumstances have become street kids.

I have never gotten involved in any street-fight.

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