VN beats Chinese Taipei to host competition in 2016

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam was selected to host the fifth Asian Beach Games in 2016 at the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) meeting which concluded on Saturday in Guangzhou, China.

Viet Nam moved past Chinese Taipei at the last minute to win the right to host the Games which are scheduled to be organised in the central province of Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang City.

Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, president of the OCA, signed the memorandum of understanding for Viet Nam's hosting of the event.

At the first Games in Bali two years ago, Viet Nam pocketed two gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals for an eighth place finish among 42 delegations.

Viet Nam will compete in 10 sports at the second Games which will be held in Oman's Muscat City early next month.

Viet Nam, which successfully organised the third Asian Indoor Games (AIG) last year, is widely expected to win the right to host the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2017 in HCM City and the 18th Asian Games in 2019, said Viet Nam Olympic Committee Chairman Hoang Vinh Giang.

"President Al-Sabah talked with Minister Tuan Anh after the OCA meeting and said he would be back to Viet Nam to host the 18th ASIAD.

"With his support and our careful preparation, I strongly believe that we will win the right because Viet Nam now has the ability to host big Asian sporting events after our recent success with the AIG and the 22nd SEA Games in 2003," Giang said.

The other countries submitting bids to host the 18th ASIAD are Thailand, Chinese Taipei and India.

Liem leads in chess tournament

International Grand Master (IGM) Le Quang Liem gained four points to take the lead in the men's individual chess tournament at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Liem won four matches including a victory over the Asian Games' defending champion Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan.

The 19-year-old hopes to maintain his momentum as he gets ready for his fifth and sixth match tonight.

Martial artist Nguyen Thi Bich beat Elina Chaudhary of Nepal 2-0, earning a semi-final berth in the women's 52kg sanshou (combat) event.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News