Anand retires; Minh enters US Open 3rd round

Top Vietnamese shuttler Nguyen Tien Minh, today, entered the third round of the 2014 YONEX Suffolk County Community College US Open Championships, after his rival Chetan Anand of India retired.

Anand, ranked 109, had earlier lost to the World No 17 Minh at the Jakarta Satellite in 2005 and the Malaysia Open in 2008.

In the next round, defending champion Minh will meet Chia-Hsin Wan of Chinese Taipei.

In the mixed doubles, Bao Minh and Vu Thi Trang gave a tough flight to Nyl Yakura and Brittney Tam of Canada, before losing 21-19, 12-21, 30-28, while in the women's singles, Trang went down tamely to Anna Doi of Japan 21-8, 21-9.

Junior basketball competition kicks off in Ha Noi

The National U-17 Basketball Championship will be organised from July 11 to 14 at the Wellspring International School's sport complex in Ha Noi.

The annual tournament has seen 70 teams competing in the boys' and girls' categories.

"The event has become quite popular among schools since its debut five years ago. It has become a platform for the Viet Nam Basketball Federation to select players for the national teams," said Nguyen Quoc Quan, federation General Secretary.

"Through the years, the tournament has left its mark, with two players, Dang Quoc Thinh and Duong Thi Trang representing Viet Nam at a World Basketball Camp in Turkey next month.

Apart from the main prizes for the three winners, the organisers are also offering teams the fair-play award, the most competitive team and Miss Basketball.

Bonus up for grabs for Long An players

V-League Dong Tam Long An will receive up to VND300 million (US$14,300) in cash if they enter the final of the National Cup tournament.

They will be travelling to play Hai Phong, also a V-League team, in the semi-final on Saturday at Lach Tray Stadium.

"Despite struggling to avoid relegation we set a target to bring home three points from Hai Phong. My players will share the bonus for their determination," said Long An President Vo Thanh Nhiem.

Long An is 11th among 12 teams in the national premier league with only 14 points. Hai Phong is one place above them, winning 17 points.

Vietnamese ousted from Can Tho ITF event

No Vietnamese players were left in the fray after the fourth day of competition at the International Tennis Federation U-18 tournament in Can Tho City.

Nguyen Mau Vinh Quang, yesterday, lost 1-6, 6-7 (7) to Dave Sebastian Mosqueda of the Philippines in the third round in the boys' singles.

His teammate Nguyen Thu Phuong was eliminated in the girls' singles, losing 0-6, 0-6 to Chatmanee Junkeaw from Thailand.

The quarter-final will be played today. The finals are scheduled for Sunday.