Vietnam Olympic draws tough group for ASIAD

HCMC - Vietnam’s U-23 football team drew some of West Asia’s strongest teams in the group stages at 16th Asian Games (ASIAD), while the Vietnam women’s national football team will have to play powerhouse China and South Korea. According to the draw, which took place in Guangzhou, China on Thursday, Vietnam has got stiff competition in Group B with Iran, Bahrain and Turkmenistan. The men’s football event will have 24 teams compete in six groups with the top two teams of each group and four best third-placed teams qualifying for the last 16 round. The hosts China will play against Japan, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia in Group A. South Korea will face North Korea, Palestine and Jordan in Group C. Group D comprises defending champions Qatar, Kuwait, India and Singapore. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will compete in Group E including Uzbekistan, UAE and Bangladesh while Thailand are in Group F with the last ASIAD runners-up Iraq, Maldives and Oman. The women’s football event will have seven teams compete in two groups and top two teams of each group qualifying to the semifinals. Vietnam are in Group A with hosts China, South Korea and Jordan while Thailand will play in Group B together with defending champions North Korea and runners-up Japan. The group matches of the men’s football event will be played from November 7 to 25 while the women’s football event will take place from November 14 to 23. In a friendly tournament to prepare for the ASIAD, Vietnam’s U-23 football team won the international football tournament - Eximbank Cup 2010 after trouncing Iran U21 2-0 during the final match in HCMC last month. The round-robin tournament drew the U-23 teams of Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Iran U21. During the last ASIAD, which was held in Qatar four years ago, Vietnam’s U23 football team finished third position, however, the Vietnam Olympic team failed to qualify for the last 16 team. Vietnam were in the same group with South Korea, Bahrain and Bangladesh. The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the 16th ASIAD, which will be held from November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. Guangzhou is the second city in China to host the Games after Beijing in 1990. A total of 476 events in 42 sports will be contested by athletes, making it the largest event in the history of the Games. It will also be the last one to have such big events, as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has enforced new hosting rules beginning with the 2014 Games. The Vietnamese delegation grabbed three gold, thirteen silver and seven bronze medals at the 15th Asian Games in Qatar, ending in 19th place overall in the medal standings. The Vietnamese delegation had send some 365 athletes, coaches, referees and officials to Asia’s biggest sporting event.