VietNam Culture

Monday, September 27, 2010

HCM City wins Vovinam title at National Games VI

HCM City's experienced martial artists claimed the top position at the Vovinam Championship with 12 gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

Host team Can Tho came in second with six golds, three silvers and three bronzes while the third place went to the Army team with four golds, one silver and one bronze.

Other teams like People's Public Security, Binh Duong and Ha Noi also did well winning a clutch of medals including gold.

The medals will go towards the teams' tally at the 6th National Sports Games to be held in Da Nang in December.

The Vovinam competition took place at Can Tho Gymnasium with the participation of 267 martial artists (82 women) from 26 provinces and cities across the country.

They competed for 20 sets of medals in the combat category and 18 sets of medals in performance category.

Viet Nam dominates regional Judo tourney

Vietnamese Judoists won 13 gold and two silver medals to dominate the Southeast Asian Judo Championship that wrapped up in HCM City's Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium.

This is the second time Viet Nam dominated the tournament. At last year's tournament in Laos, Viet Nam easily claimed the top position with 11 gold, four silver medals and one bronze medal.

Laos came in second with two gold, five silver and five bronze medals and followed by Thailand with four silver and bronze medals.

The one-day tournament has seven participating countries, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the host team Viet Nam. At least 100 athletes will compete for 15 sets of medals.

Athletes will have a training trip at Nanjing, China next month before competing at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou in November. — VNS

Messi returns to training after injury

Lionel Messi in pain after being injured

Photo: AFP

Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi returned to training on Friday, five days after injuring his ankle, but away from the first-team squad, the club announced.

"Lionel Messi's road to recovery took a step forward on Friday as he strolled onto the training pitch for the first time to work on his individual program," Barcelona said on its website.

"He has moved up a gear and moved outside along with a coach and worked away from the rest of the first-team squad as he battles to regain full fitness."

Messi was stretchered off in the final minute of Sunday's league match against Atletico Madrid, which Barca won 2-1, following a robust tackle from Czech defender Tomasz Ujfalusi, who was sent off for the challenge.

Barcelona said Monday that Messi, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, would miss at least the next two matches after suffering ligament damage to his ankle.

Ujfalusi has apologized to Messi, saying he had "tried to go for the ball", but was "unlucky as my foot stepped on his ankle".

Vietnam beat U23 Kuwait 3-0

Vietnam beat U23 Kuwait 3-0

Vietnam’s national team thrashed Kuwait’s U23 side 3-0 in the opener of the Thang Long-Hanoi 1000^th Anniversary Football Cup at the My Dinh Stadium on Monday.

Relieved of pressure by coach Calisto’s decision not to aim for victory, the Vietnamese players played superbly for an impressive victory.

Playing fast football, the home team launched relentless attacks, putting constant pressure on the Middle Eastern visitors.

However, Vietnam could only score one goal before half time, Viet Thang making no mistake from the penalty spot.

Calisto made two substitutions after the break, and Vietnam continued to control the match. Midway through the second half, skipper Minh Phuong’s powerful shot doubled the score and Trong Hoang came off the bench later to make it 3-0 for the home team, pouncing on a rebound from a Viet Cuong shot at the goal.

In other action, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea didn’t play as well as expected, but beat Australia’s U23 squad by a solitary goal, Pak Nam Chol scoring from the penalty spot.

Socceroos hand Viet Nam 2-0 defeat

Socceroos hand Viet Nam 2-0 defeat Vietnam’s national team suffered a 0-2 defeat to Australia’s U23 squad at the Thang Long-Hanoi 1000th Anniversary Football Cup at My Dinh Stadium on Wednesday.

The hosts’ performance was in stark contrast to Monday, when they beat Kuwait’s U23 squad 3-0.

The Vietnamese players, especially the midfielders and defenders, moved slowly and were often left behind by their beefy Australian rivals.

In just 30 minutes, the home team conceded two goals before they tightened their defense, but their attackers failed to capitalize on the few chances.

Speaking to the press after the match, coach Calisto said that Vietnam could have scored some goals and a 2-all tie would have been a fairer reflection of the game.

The Portuguese tactician said that his players were still tired after the opening day victory, but also conceded that the socceroos were physically stronger.

Calisto saw positives in the loss. “We made a lot of mistakes during the game. The players have seen their mistakes and will try to do better.

“We should remember that Singapore players are also big like Australians, so the game is a good chance for Vietnam.”

In other action, the Democratic Republic of Korea, who defeated the Aussies 1-0 on Monday, beat Kuwait’s U23 team by the same margin.

The football tournament, organized to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thanh Long-Hanoi, ends in Hanoi on Friday September 2. A similar contest will in Ho Chi Minh City will be played from September 28-October 2, pitting Vietnam’s U23 squad against Singapore, Malaysia and Iran’s U21 teams.

Sunday, September 26, 2010