GM Liem draws with Indonesian rival

Top Vietnamese chess player Le Quang Liem drew with Grandmaster Lalith Babu of Indonesia in the fifth round of the Asian Continental Chess Championships in the Philippines yesterday, May 22.

Another Vietnamese player, Dao Thien Hai lost to Chao B Li of China.

In the women's competition, Nguyen Thi Thanh An and Hoang Thi Nhu Y were defeated by Qi Guo and Jue Wang of China, respectively.

After the championships, the five best male players and one best female player will earn tickets to compete at the World Chess Cup due to take place later this year.

Vietnamese players Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and An qualified for the World Cup thanks to their championship titles at a Zone 3.3 chess tournament earlier this year.

VN athletes to compete in Taiwan

Viet Nam will compete in the Taiwan Open Athletics Championships to be held in Taipei City Stadium on May 27-28.

Dao Xuan Cuong (men's 400m hurdle).— VNS File Photo

The 10-member team includes three champions from the 26th Southeast Asian Games, Dao Xuan Cuong (men's 400m hurdle), Tran Hue Hoa (women's triple jump) and Nguyen Truong Giang (men's javelin).

They will have a chance to compete with London Olympics champions in the two-day event, including Jeneba Tarmoh of US, gold medallist in the women's 4x100m relay, Angelo Taylor (US), gold medallist in men's 4x400m relay, and Greg Nixon (US), gold medallist in men's 4x400m relay in the 2011 Daegu World Championships.

This year's event has attracted 13 teams from US, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Ha Noi hosts rapid chess event

A rapid chess event, the sixth Ha Noi Open for children, will start at the Ha Noi Library on May 25-26.

Players will compete in two groups including advanced and amateur for 16 sets of cups and medals.

The event, organised by Kim Dong Publishing House and Vietchess company, is part of activities to mark International Children's Day (June 1).

SLNA win monthly awards

V-League side Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) won two awards in April, according to the V-League's organising board.

SLNA won team of the month, followed by Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hai Phong Cement.

After 10 rounds, SLNA hold 20 points to rank top at the table. This also helped chief coach Nguyen Huu Thang win the award for best coach.

Thang also won this award in March.

Hai Phong's striker Antonio won the individual monthly award. Evaldo Goncalves and Oseni Bolaji of Hoang Anh Gia Lai finished second and third, respectively.

Children find friends through football

The 4th Hope Cup football tournament, The Roar of the Lions, will see 16 teams of young people from various backgrounds, including street children who live at open houses and warm shelters, as well as students from international schools in HCM City.

The event will be held on May 26 and June 2 at Ky Hoa Football Field in District 10.

The contest, which draws children from diverse backgrounds, gives them an opportunity to interact through the language of sport.

Tran Van Dat, who lives at a warm shelter in District 8, said: "We are happy we can play football with many friends. Our skills have improved and our spirit is higher, too. We hope to see strong teams again compete for this year."

The fourth annual tournament will mark a milestone for the children who have been taking part since the first event.

The Cup attracted sponsorship from the Consular Club of HCM City, California Fitness&Yoga Centre, Chance to Play from the UK, the British Council, RGF Executive Search and Aothun.vn.

All 11 football teams from warm shelters will be fully equipped with good uniforms, shoes and protective clothing.

Sai Gon Children's Charity is the co-organiser of the event, which was also supported by the LIN Centre for Community Development.

Source: VNS