Freestyle football comes to Vietnam

The first ever freestyle football competition has been launched in Viet Nam following the first competition organised for individual free-stylers in 2009 by Clear Men.

The 2008 European Komball FIFA Street champion, Nguyen Hoai Nam, has been named as the face and head judge for the two-round team competition.

The competition will see the 24 best players in three-player teams battle it out against each other in the finals, scheduled on November 16, 2013.

Those looking to enter can register at www.tangbongnghethuat.com.vn.

Thuy on top after day 2 of cycling

Cyclist Bui Minh Thuy of Vinh Long yesterday claimed first place in the men's 40km race on the second day of the National Cycling Championships in Vung Tau City.

Behind Thuy's 52min 00.88sec time, Trinh Duc Tam of Ha Noi failed to defend his title won on the first day, but overcame Mai Nguyen Hung of HCM City to secure second place.

In the women's 32km individual event, Nguyen Thuy Dung of Binh Duong won first place on a time of 48min 19.76sec. Nguyen Thi Thanh (Dong Thap) arrived second followed by her teammate Pham Thi Kim Loan.

Dung's gold medal win helped Binh Duong to the top of the leader board at the tournament with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, followed closely by Ha Noi on one gold and one silver. An Giang ranks third with one gold and one bronze medal.

Today, male cyclists continue their 80km race, while their female counterparts ride 50km.

Young guns set up grandstand final

Ly Hoang Nam and Nguyen Hoang Thien outclassed their opponents in the semi-finals to set up an epic final at the national tennis championship, which will conclude today.

Defending champion and top seed, Nam was yet to drop a set as he saw off Trinh Linh Giang 6-0, 7-5, while Thien showed equally impressive form sending home Pham Minh Tuan in straight sets (6-4, 6-2).

The final promises to draw a big crowd of tennis lovers, as the first final between the nation's two rising tennis stars.

Nam, 16, and Thien, 18, have faced each other twice, with a 1-1 match record. Thien beat Nam in their first meeting six years ago, with the sixteen year old leveling the score board at last year's championships.

"I think both players share equal chances at winning the final," said nine-time national champ, Do Minh Quan, who was knocked out by Nam at the semi finals last year.

Around two thousands of tennis fans attended the previous match at the Ha Noi Athletics Centre. Despite expectations of a tight game, Nam quickly ran away with the first set, not relenting one game to his opponent.

Giang raised expectations in the second set with a blistering set of forehands tightening the score at 5-5.

Nam soon consolidated a break in the 11th game to win the set, using his powerful serve to wear down his opponent.

On the other semi final court, Tuan and Thien seemed to live up to fans' expectation in the first place with an even starting score at 3-3.

Two lucky points from Thien broke Tuan in the seventh game, allowing the eighteen year old to run to 6-4 lead.

Thien continued to gather momentum in the second set frustrating Tuan into making a swathe of unforced errors. Thien jumped to a massive 5-1 lead following two breaks in the first and fifth games, with Tuan surrendering the set 6-2 with a long ball.

Huynh Phuong Dai Trang has yet to drop a single set and showed fine form, crushing Phan Thi Thanh Binh 6-3, 6-1 to set up a final against Huynh Phi Khanh, who defeated Tran Thi Tam Hao in three sets.

Do Minh Quan and Le Quoc Khanh sealed their place in the men's doubles final after overcoming Ngo Quang Huy and Lam Quang Tri 6-2, 7-6, 11-9.