Sports

Kvitova reached her fourth successive WTA quarter-final. — AFP PhotoViet Nam News DUBAI — Former winners Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep advanced to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championships on Wednesday and were joined by two-time defending champion Elina Svitolina. Second seed Kvitova outlasted American qualifier Jennifer Brady 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. Crowd favourite and third seed Halep coped with gusty conditions at the Aviation Club as she beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-3, 7-5, breaking seven times. The Romanian will play her quarter-final against a charged-up Belinda Bencic, who saved seven match points before converting the first of her own to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7). "I have no idea how I won, I was thinking many times during the match points that I was already back in the locker room," said Bencic. "I have nothing to lose against Halep, she’s a great player. But I have gained energy from this win." Tsurenko managed just a single point over the last … [Read more...] about Hat-trick chasing Svitolina joins Halep, Kvitova in Dubai quarters

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring the late winning goal. — AFP PhotoViet Nam News GELSENKIRCHEN — Raheem Sterling sealed a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win for 10-man Manchester City at Schalke on Wednesday as the English champions scored twice in the last five minutes. Sterling tucked away the winner at the Veltins Arena in the 90th minute just after substitute Leroy Sane fired home a stunning free-kick for the Premier League leaders against his former club in the last 16, first leg. "I waited for my chance and wanted to shoot from there as I had previously scored from that position and it restored our confidence," a delighted Sane told broadcaster DAZN after his equaliser. Schalke led 2-1 at half-time as the video assistant referee (VAR) twice intervened to award penalties, both converted by Nabil Bentaleb, cancelling out Sergio Aguero’s opener in Gelsenkirchen. City were in real trouble with 22 minutes left when Nicolas … [Read more...] about Sterling winner caps late Man City comeback at Schalke

Class act: Manchester United’s famous class of 92 looking a little bit older. — AFP PhotoViet Nam News by Paul Kennedy Former BBC pundit Alan Hansen once proclaimed to viewers of Match of the Day that “you’ll win nothing with kids”. He was talking after a very youthful looking Manchester United team was beaten 3-1 at Aston Villa. Known as Fergie’s Fledglings, the team featured Gary Neville (aged 20), Paul Scholes (20), Ryan Giggs (21), Phil Neville (18), Nicky Butt (20), and substitute appearances from David Beckham (20) and John O’Kane (20). His infamous assertion was uttered after the opening match of the 1995/96 season. United, with kids, went on to win the league, leaving the usually cool as a cucumber Hansen eating his words. During that season United played six players under the age of 23 over ten games. Winning the league, with kids, was an amazing achievement, but one that hasn’t been matched since. Those particular kids, … [Read more...] about Alan was right, you’ll win nothing with kids

The Ecopark Marathon 2019 will take place on April 14. — Photo webthethao.vnViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Ecopark Marathon 2019 is scheduled to take place on April 14 at Ecopark urban area, about 10km southeast of Hà Nội. The second edition will attract the participation of around 4,500 runners, a four-fold increase over the first edition last year. Competitors will compete in 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races. Last year, runners only took part in the 21km, 10km and 5km categories. “With 4,500 runners taking part, we will have to work hard to prepare for the event. We will try our best to make it the best and safest run,” said Nguyễn Phương Thu, one of the event’s organisers. Thu said Ecopark Marathon 2019 is selecting 200 people to serve the event including pacers and cyclists to lead runners and referees. — VNS … [Read more...] about Ecopark Marathon to be held in April

Athletes of Gia Lai Province prepare for the tournament. — Photo baogialai.com.vnViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The opening ceremony of the Central Highlands traditional martial arts tournament was held on Tuesday evening at Gia Lai Province’s Sports Gymnasium. The tournament attracts 200 athletes from 12 cities and provinces in the Central Highlands region. Athletes compete in 18 weight divisions, including eight women’s weight categories. Host Gia Lai will compete in all weight divisions for men and women. The tournament is open to the public.   New light and sound systems have been added by organisers to make fights more lively. The tournament is one of the festivals to kick off spring, co-organised by Hà Nội People’s Committee’s Department of Culture and Sports, Gia Lai Sports and Training Centre, and the Traditional Martial Arts Association. — VNS … [Read more...] about Traditional martial arts tournament kicks off in central highlands