Viet Nam pass Thailand in SEA Games medal tally

Chess champion: Grandmaster Le Quang Liem(right) triumphs in the blindfold chess event organised for the first time at the SEA Games. Golden boy: Hoang Quy Phuoc takes his and Viet Nam's second swimming gold medal after winning the men's 100m freestyle event with a time of 50.79sec. — VNA/VNS Photos Quang Nhut

HA NOI — Viet Nam surpassed Thailand in the SEA Games' medal tally to take second place with 56 golds, 55 silvers and 59 bronzes after a great competition day yesterday in Indonesia.

Host Indonesia remained firmly on top with 87 golds while Thailand reached a new total of 52.

Le Quang Liem claimed a gold medal for Viet Nam when he triumphed over Malaysian master Mok Tze Meng in blindfold chess.

It was the first time the event was included in the SEA Games and also Liem's first trial, but the Vietnamese International
Super Grandmaster had no difficulty in defeating his rivals.

Liem drew with his teammate Nguyen Anh Dung in the opening match before winning his next six contests. His only loss was to Dawwin Laylo of the Philippines in the fourth game.

"I was like a fish out of water when I first played blindfold chess. But when I became familiar with it, it was no longer difficult to me," said world No 25 Liem.

In the coming days, Liem will be vying for another individual title in the rapid chess event.

Liem's gold medal was the second for Viet Nam yesterday. Earlier, mixed pair Dao Thien Hai and Nguyen Thi Thanh An won in the standard chess event with 10 points after 5 rounds.

In swimming, teenager Hoang Quy Phuoc pocketed his second title in the men's 100m freestyle with a time of 50.79sec. The swimmer surged ahead of the Singaporean rival Yeo Kai Quan in the last metres to win gold.

With this performance, Phuoc set a new national record and earned Viet Nam its second gold medal in swimming.

Wrestler Nguyen Huy Ha also tasted glory in the men's 55kg category. Ha defeated a Thai opponent 2-0 in the final match.

SEA Games Medal Tally Gold Silver Bronze 1. Indonesia 87 67 69 2. Viet Nam 56 55 59 3. Thailand 52 41 60 4. Singapore 29 32 47 5. Malaysia 27 24 44 6. Philippines 17 28 34 7. Laos 5 3 19 8. Cambodia 3 9 11 9. Myanmar 1 12 16 10. Brunei 0 1 6 11. East Timor 0 0 1 (Last update at 23pm Viet Nam time)

"My opponent was young so I was able to stay calm and confident during the competition. My skill, technique and experiences helped me beat him. I am happy because it is my second SEA Games gold medal in a row," said Ha.

His teammate Nguyen The Anh also took home a gold in the men's 60kg after defeating a Filipino rival 2-0 in the final.

The rowing team also joined the medal tally list after winning in the women's doubles W2 and women's quartet 2,000m events.

According to coach Pham Thi Ngoc La, there are six events to be organised today and Vietnamese athletes have a shot at winning them all.

The marksmen yesterday brought home two more golds in the men's rifle three positions and 10m mobile target pistol events.

The shooting team successfully exceeded their target of five gold medals, winning in seven out of 14 events organised in Indonesia.

The first medal of the day went to marathon runner Pham Thi Binh who came in third for a bronze, the first ever for Viet Nam in SEA Games.

Making her debut at the Games this year, Binh had no expectations of taking home a gold, although her coach Nguyen Tuan Anh predicted that she would place in the top three based on her statistics in training.

Viet Nam are expected to get more gold when judo event starts today.

Queen Van Ngoc Tu will attempt her fifth SEA Games crown.

The 24-year-old will compete in the women's 48kg category and, in the case of her winning this year's title, will have a record breaking day.

Tu first triumphed at the 23th SEA Games in the Philippines, her international debut, and has dominated the regional tournament ever since.

The Soc Trang Province-born athlete is also the only in the Southeast Asia to grab a [bronze] medal from the Asian championships.

The fifth SEA Games gold medal will make her the richest judokas. She will rank among other national icons such as wrestler Man Ba Xuan, taekwondo artist Nguyen Van Hung and pencak silat fighter Trinh Thi Mui.

In this SEA Games, Tu will have a chance to earn more of the points she needs for a ticket for the London Olympics next summer. — VNS

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

SEA Games football: Vietnam trounce Brunei to top group

Southeast Asian Games runners-up Vietnam outplayed Brunei and scored eight goals in their game in Indonesia’s Jakarta Saturday evening to top Group B.
 The 2009 runners-up earned a comfortable victory at the Lebak Bulus Stadium after laboring to beat Timor Leste 2-0 four days before in the biennial tournament.

Striker Nguyen Van Quyet headed to open fire for Vietnam just after the kick off and continued to score another two goals to make a hat-trick within 13 minutes into the Saturday game of the regional competition, which is for only under-23-year-old players.
AFP - Players of the Vietnamese U23 football team celebrate one of 

their eight goals in their win over Brunei at Jakarta’s Lebak Bulus 
Stadium Nov. 12, 2011. (Photo: Dung Phuong)

Vietnam skipper Pham Thanh Luong netted with a close shot in the 15th minute. Just three minutes later, striker Le Van Thang scored the fifth goal for the all-red side.

Midfielder Hoang Van Binh then made a superb right foot shot from more than 35 meters. The first half finished with six goals for German coach Falko Goetz’s side.

Vietnam did not push forward very hard after the break and Brunei had time to re-establish balance in ball possession. However, Vietnam midfielder Le Hoang Thien enlarged the gap in the 57th minute from close range before substitute striker Hoang Dinh Tung finished the score sheet at 8-0 in the 72nd minute.

Vietnam have earned 10 points after four matches to top Group B. Myanmar came second with 7 points but played three games. Brunei got only one point and were at the bottom of the six-team group.

Myanmar will take on the Philippines and Timor Leste will play Laos on Nov. 13.

Group B will wrap up on Nov. 17 with Vietnam taking on Laos in the final matchday.

www1.dtinews.vn

Watch Vietnam U23 vs Brunei U23 live

Vietnam U23 vs Brunei U23
Match Schedule
Tournament: SEA Games 2011
Match: Vietnam U23 vs Brunei U23

vs Brunei U23
Time: 15h30 GMT+7
Live/Repeat: Live
Date:- Saturday (12 November)
Stadium: Moe Win of Myanmar (2nd L) is shown

the red card after a tackle on Vietnamese

striker Van Quyet, Photo by Bach Duong

Vietnam’s Under-23 men’s national football team was held to a scoreless draw against Myanmar in their second game at the 26th South East Asian Games in Indonesia on Saturday.
The Vietnamese looked the better side all through the regular 90 minutes and created several chances but failed to score a single goal.
They had beaten Myanmar 5-0 at VFF Cup in Hanoi late last month, so they were hopeful of another victory.
The Vietnamese footballers were attacking throughout but Myanmar stuck firm to their defensive tactics and it paid off.
Vietnam’s central fullback Lam Anh Quang found the net eight minutes before the break but the referee ruled him offside.
Vietnam continued to launch attacks and looked even more dangerous attacks after Moe Win of Myanmar was sent off with a red card after tackling Vietnam’s striker Van Quyet in the 59th minute. However, Myanmar’s defense stood firm.
In fact, things could have been worse for Vietnam. Myanmar’s Yan Aung Win hit the bar in a counterattack during stoppage time of the second half.
Vietnam still leads Group B with four point. Myanmar also has four points but is in second place on goal difference.
Vietnam will on Wednesday clash with East Timor, who came from behind to beat Brunei 2-1 in their first match on Saturday.

By Son Tung, Thanh Nien News

Top fencer to take stab at SEA Games

HA NOI — Viet Nam's top fencer Nguyen Thi Le Dung will face rivals from Indonesia and Thailand at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this week.

Dung, 26, who took up the Olympic sport at the age of 16, is the most experienced and skilful of the Vietnamese fencers who will be taking part at the Games.

She is eager to seize her opportunity in a discipline that was not included at the 2009 SEA Games in Laos.

The Hanoian took a six-month break for a course at the Foreign Trade College last year, but she showed top form at the World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy, last month.

She ranked 16th among 122 competitors in the women's singles sabre event after a 3-15 loss in the fourth round to Vecci Irene of Italy.

"I expect more success at this year's SEA Games following strong performances at the Games from 2003-07. However, I'm ready for tough tests against rivals from the host country and Thailand," said Dung.

"I've had a long career in fencing so I'll do my best this year because it could be my last chance," she said.

Vietnamese fencers have had 10 months to prepare to cross swords at the region's biggest sporting event at the Ha Noi-based elite athletes sports training centre and on two training trips to China.

Dung will be joined in the fencing squad by Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, Nguyen Thi Nhu Hoa, Tran Thi Len, Nguyen Thi Tuoi, Le Thi Bich, Truong Nguyen Nhat Minh, Nguyen Tien Nhat, and Nguyen Phuoc Den, who will be competing for 12 medal sets in the men's and women's individual and team sabre, foil and epee events from Sunday until Wednesday. — VNS

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Wushu team aims for gold at SEA Games

HA NOI – The national wushu team is aiming to win five or six gold medals in the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which kick off today in Indonesia.

Male martial artist Quoc Khanh and trio Nguyen Huy Thanh-Tran Duc Trong-Tran Xuan Hiep are candidates for gold medals in the performance event.

In the combat event, 16th Asian Games silver medallists Nguyen Thi Bich and Phan Van Hau are favourites to win. In addition to them, 25th SEA Games gold medallists Tan Thi Ly and Tran Van Kien, and 16th Asian Games bronze medallist Nguyen Minh Thong are expected to bring home gold medals.

The team also welcomes Bui Quy Linh, Do Duc Cuong, Hoang Van Linh, Pham Duy Viet, plus two returning "veterans" once they have fully recovered from sports injury – Vu Thuy Linh and Nguyen Mai Phuong.

One highly notable change this year is the absence of Vu Tra My. Despite the coaching staff's encouragement, the wushu artist has left the team. My is widely known for her talent in swordsmanship and two-weapon combat.

In preparation for the Games, the team underwent an intensive training program in China under the guidance of Chinese experts. The team also played well at the recent world event in Turkey with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

The world gold medallist Nguyen Thanh Tung of the men's non-fighting event Taijiquan is really a spiritual inspiration for the team looking ahead in the Games.

At present, the team is training at the Ha Noi-based National Sports Centre. Next Tuesday, they will leave for Indonesia to start the competition running from November 18-21.

At the 25th event, the team made it to the number one position with seven gold medals, six silver medals and one bronze medal. -- VNS

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

VN favourites to win SEA Games gold

HA NOI — The national table tennis team is set to win a gold medal in the men's double event at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which will kick off in Indonesia today.

Doan Kien Quoc and Dinh Quang Linh are favourites to win having defeated Gao Ning and Yang Zi of Singapore in the final at the 25th SEA Games in Laos two years ago.

"At 32, Quoc is the oldest in the team, but his skills and experience are very important. At the last Games, thanks to playing with Quoc, Linh played very well," said head coach Le Xuan Phong.

"This is my last SEA Games and I hope to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics," Quoc confided.

If Quoc's dream comes true, he will make SEA table tennis history by qualifying for three Olympics.

At a world event in the Netherlands in May, Quoc reached the main round of the men's singles and men's double alongside Tuan Quynh.

The 32-year-old, renowned for his left-hand smashes, won a bronze medal at the 21st Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2001.

Born in Nha Trang City, Quoc won the Southeast Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship in 1996 when he was just 17.

Viet Nam's rising star Linh, together with partner Mai Hoang My Trang, clinched the mixed doubles title at the Golden Racket International Table Tennis Tournament in HCM City in July.

The event will start on November 13 in Jakarta with five sets of medals up for grabs in the men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles. — VNS

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

SEA Games 26: First bronze medal for Vietnam

Hopeful Tran Van Long failed to clinch the first gold medal for Vietnam at canoeing competitions in Indonesia on November 11.

Long, who won two gold medals at the Southeast Asian Canoeing Championships in June 2011, only finished third in the men’s 1,000m competition after Indonesia’s Octarorianus and Myanmar’s Win Hintke.
Another Vietnamese hopeful Nguyen Thanh Quang only came fourth in the same event.
Vietnamese players also failed to secure a gold medal in the men’s doubles.
On November 12, female Vietnamese players will take part in the 500m and 200m singles and doubles competitions.
However, they have little chance to bag golds as their Singaporean opponents are too strong, according to chief coach Nguyen Van Thang.
Vietnamese canoeing athletes aim to bring home 2-3 gold medals from these competitions.
The 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will officially kick off in Palembang city on the evening of November 11.

www1.dtinews.vn