Category: Sports

Qatar, Abdullah Radif scores a hat-trick to help. Saudi Arabia beats the Thai national team 5-0 in the U23 AFC Championship. To qualify for the Olympic Games, Paris 2024

AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, Group C, second match, Thailand national team, blue team, meets Saudi Arabia. After the first match, the Thai national team beat Iraq 2-0, while Saudi Arabia beat Tajikistan 4-2. Starting the game only 4 minutes, Haitam Asiri opened in front of goal for Ayman Yahya to charge in for Saudi Arabia. Leading 1-0 in the first half of extra time in the 45th + 1st minute, Ahmed Al Ghamdi slipped in and struck with the right and inserted it into the first post, giving Saudi Arabia a 2-0 lead in the 45th + 7th minute. Abdulla Radif came to hit with his right hand to give Saudi Arabia a 3-0 lead. The second half started the game only 4 minutes. Chisanupong Chote blocked the ball into the path of Abdullah Radif who hit with his right hand into the goal. Their own 2 in this match gave Saudi Arabia a 4-0 lead.

In the 73rd minute,
Abdullah Radif scored a hat-trick in this match, helping Saudi Arabia win 5-0, collecting two straight victories with a full 6 points. As for the Thai national team, they have 3 points, equal to Iraq, who defeated Tajiki. Place 4-2, with the last match on April 22, the Thai national team meets Tajikistan at Al Yanoub Stadium at 10:30 p.m. Thailand time, while Saudi Arabia meets Iraq at Khalifa International. Stadium.

Source: Thai News Agency

Hanoi: A unique form of folk singing using a combination of spoken singing and music, with a history marked by ups and downs, ‘Xam’ is experiencing a resurgence in many regions across the country, especially in the Red River Delta region, including Hanoi.

From the first Xam singing group established in Dong Xuan market in Hanoi, many ‘Xam’ clubs and classes to teach and revitalise the art form have been established.

Revival after long oblivion

‘Xam’ singing is a traditional art form which originated from Vietnam’s northern region. As its deep lyrics narrate daily life stories, the art form is considered an intricate cultural item, and has become an important part of the Vietnamese people’s spiritual life. The art-form fell into oblivion for a time, but recently has been revitalised and gradually made its return into the minds and hearts of music lovers.

The first Xam singing club was launched in 2006 by the Vietnam Music Development Centre named Xam Ha Thanh (Hanoi buskers’ singing group). Its members per
form for free every weekend evening at Dong Xuan Market in front of local market goers and visiors to the area.

The club has become a cradle nurturing the love for Xam singing among the public. Many artists have grown from this club and participated in activities contributing to the revival and development of this art form.

So far, dozens of Xam singing clubs and groups have been established in Hanoi.

People in Hanoi and tourists can enjoy free Xam singing performances at various locations around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter.

Xam Ha Thanh has endeavored to revive ancient Xam melodies, infusing modern elements into new compositions, bringing the folk art closer to the public.

The art form is gaining more recognition and becoming familiar to many people nowadays.

According to music researcher Dang Hoanh Loan, support and coordination from the government, cultural and artistic organisations, as well as contributions from artists and the community, are needed to further develop the folk music genre wi
thin the community.

Furthermore, it is necessary to encourage and support the maintenance and development of Xam singing clubs, groups, and cultural centres, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 3rd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will kick off at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on April 17, and be broadcast live on the Hanoi Radio and Television Station.

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the municipal People’s Committee, the event is expected to feature over 40,000 book titles of 60 publishers, publishing businesses, and technology enterprises.

A book fair themed “Nurturing knowledge – Creating the future” will be held on the same day morning in the Hanoi Book Street as part of the series of activities to respond to the event.

In the framework of the event, seminars and book introduction events, and art and cultural performance programmes will be held, aiming to provide readers and visitors with a variety of experiences.

Publishing and distribution units will organise numerous promotional programmes from April 17 to 21 for readers both in-person and online to encourage them to buy and read books.

Activities to respond to the Vietna
m Book and Reading Culture Day will be organised in schools and universities to encourage and develop reading movements in the community, especially among the young.

The annual Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, first held in 2022, has been considered a festival for book-lovers, helping spread the value of books as well as the reading culture in the community./

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Mayor of the French city of Bagneux Hélène Amiable hosted a local reception on April 15 for a delegation of eight young Vietnamese taekwondo athletes currently under training until April 16.

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just over 100 days away, Amiable highlighted the symbolic significance of the training session, saying that it embodies the strong friendship between Vietnam and France.

She said the training session in Bagneux is highly symbolic of the Vietnam – France friendship.

The official expressed delight at welcoming the talented young Vietnamese for exchange with local fellows, notably Solène Avoulète, an eight-time French national champion and two-time European champion.

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang described the training activity as the continuation of a long-standing tradition of sporting exchange between Bagneux and Vietnam, saying that it follows the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between Vietnam and France.

H
e said this activity holds great significance in demonstrating the diversity in France-Vietnam relationship, particularly in the field of sports. It also reflects the growing closeness between French and Vietnamese localities, as well as France’s wish to foster diverse forms of exchange and cooperation with Vietnam.

Bagneux boasts a large Vietnamese community and a strong tradition in taekwondo, making it a location suitable for this pre-Olympic training programme./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

As the biennial AFC U23 Asian Cup was officially kicked off on April 15, the continental football governing body has spotlighted Vietnamese Nguyen Quang Hai in the list of the top 10 players who showcased their talent at previous editions and look to continue their rise to prominence.

“Many of those who have stood out for their countries over the years have gone on to become key performers for their senior national teams and represent some of the biggest clubs in Asia and beyond,” said the AFC report.

Midfielder Hai was one of the most successful players in Vietnam’s squad at the 2018 tournament in Changzhou, China, where Vietnam made its best ever result at a continental competition, finishing at second place.

“It’s not often a goal gets a name of its own but Vietnam’s youngster Nguyen Quang Hai’s magnificent free kick against Uzbekistan in the 2018 final has that honour after coming to be known as the ‘Rainbow in the Snow’. Even though the Southeast Asians narrowly missed out on the title, the tournamen
t showcased Hai’s talent to the world,” the website reads.

“Hai notched up five goals in Vietnam’s historic run to the final, including a brace against the United Arab Emirates in a thrilling semi-final, and went on to be named the MVP when Park Hang-seo’s side overcame Malaysia to win the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Cup in 2018. He also played an instrumental role when the Golden Star Warriors made it to the final eight of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.”

Not only shining internationally, Hai was also key member of Hanoi FC, helping the club to win national premier league titles in 2018, 2019 and 2022, the National Cup in 2019, 2020, 2022 and the Super Cup in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, although in the 2022 season he played only half time before moving to Pau FC in the French Ligue 2.

Returning to Vietnam last year, he signed a contract with defending champions Hanoi Police. After a short time struggling to find his form, Hai is now the best local scorer with six goals in V-League 1 after 15 rounds.

Other pla
yers honoured by the AFC include forward Takuma Asano of Japan, right winger Suphanat Mueanta of Thailand, striker Firas Al-Buraikan of Saudi Arabia, midfielder Lee Kang In of South Korea and left winger Akram Afif of Qatar.

At this year’s cup, Vietnam will play in Group D with Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.

The AFC took an in-depth look at the teams and predicted Vietnam to have opportunity to enter the next round.

“Led by the impressive Nguyen Quang Hai, Vietnam went close to becoming the first Southeast Asian team to win the competition when they reached the final in 2018, only to be outdone by Uzbekistan in extra time,” it posted.

“Vietnam qualified for the Finals after topping Group C with seven points. Initial wins against Guam (6-0) and Yemen (1-0) meant that the Golden Star Warriors secured their passage with a game to spare, before a much-changed side drew 2-2 with Singapore in their final match.

“With seven national team players including Nguyen Thai Son and Khuat Van Khang in the squad, Viet
nam will be stronger contenders for a spot in the knockout stage.”

The Vietnamese team are not given any mission at this tournament. However, coach Hoang Anh Tuan set it himself.

“Actually, the Vietnam Football Federation and I personally always have goals before each tournament. However, in this difficult time, VFF does not place heavy responsibility on us, asking us to play as best as possible,” said Tuan.

“VFF does not set goal, but we want to set it ourselves. We will play with highest determination and great effort to at least get through the group stage.”/.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A cooking contest spotlighting Vietnam’s traditional rice cakes has stirred excitement in Phu Tho as part of the northern province’s ongoing signature Hung Kings Temple Festival.

Taking place on April 16 or the 8th day of the third lunar month, the competition saw the participation of 13 teams representing 13 districts and townships in Phu Tho province.

Regarding the category of ‘banh chung’ (square glutinous rice cake), teams are set to compete in making 10 cakes from 5kg of glutinous rice, 1kg of green beans, and 1kg of pork within a maximum time of 10 minutes, with the boiling process lasting for five hours.

In the category of ‘banh giay’ (round glutinous rice cake), artisans had to cook 5kg of glutinous rice into sticky rice in 30 minutes at the maximum, and then pound and shape them into 10 cakes in no more than 15 minutes.

The contest aimed to reenact the traditional ritual of presenting offerings to ancestors dating back to the time of Hung Kings. It is an opportunity to honour products made from
rice, express gratitude and respect to the merit of the Hung Kings, and connect people of various ethnic groups in the province.

This year, the festival, one of the country’s largest annual cultural and religious events to commemorate its legendary founders, lasts from April 9-18.

The commemoration of the Hung Kings is a national holiday that takes place annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 18 this year. The practice of worshiping them in Phu Tho was recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage in 2012./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The south-central province of Khanh Hoa will host the first international jazz festival in Nha Trang city from April 27 to May 1.

The event will take place at April 2 Square and Thanh Nien Stadium with the participation of more than 100 artists across the country as well as those from the US, Singapore and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

It aims to showcase the diversity and allure of jazz worldwide to both local spectators as well as popularise Nha Trang city as a safe and exciting destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

This year, Khanh Hoa province expects to earn 40 trillion VND (1.58 billion USD) in tourism revenue and welcome more than 9 million tourist arrivals, including 3 million foreign visitors.

To this end, it plans to host dozens of festivals, cultural events, and introduce new tourism products in 2024 to lure more tourists and boost local tourism. They include a series of seminars in April, focusing on the historical and cultural values, and people of Nha Trang, and its socio-economic d
evelopment and green growth.

The Sea Tourism Fair will be held at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang from June 13-16, featuring 200 stalls to introduce tourism products, cuisine, and speciality products of Khanh Hoa and coastal provinces. The fair will also offer tourism seminars, a street carnival, and live music and dance performances and is expected to lure 150,000 visitors.

The province will launch an art light festival with the theme of ‘Ever Glamour Nha Trang 2024’ every Saturday from June 29 to July 20 at Nha Trang Bay. The event will see the participation of four teams from Vietnam, China, the RoK and India, who will present drone performances featuring the themes of “Hello Vietnam, Glorious Ocean, Stories of Heritage, and Glamour Nha Trang”./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

How many opportunities will Thai football fans have to watch the World Cup via free TV after the NBTC board withdrew the purchase of rights to broadcast the World Cup final round from the ‘Must Have’ announcement?

Broadcasting Commission Television business and the National Telecommunications Commission or NBTC Board unanimously voted 7-0 to cancel the Must Have rule to support the World Cup. or to withdraw the purchase of rights to broadcast the World Cup finals from the Must Have announcement. This tournament is designated as 1 of the 7 sports programs that must be broadcast live for free for the public to watch throughout the country. Dr. Saran Boonbaichaiphruek, Chairman of the NBTC, revealed that at the NBTC board meeting. There was a unanimous decision to cancel the Must Have rule to support the World Cup. The reason is that it is a sport with a high market value. After the past, the NBTC Board approved financial support from the Broadcasting Research and Development Fund. Television and telecommunica
tions business For the public benefit or NBTC to the Sports Authority of Thailand or SAT to broadcast the 2022 World Cup live within a budget of 600 million baht from the full amount of 1,600 million baht from the NCPO government wanting to return happiness to the people. To watch the 2022 World Cup, which has caused widespread criticism. and the issue of strong debate about its worthiness Even though the Thai national team Didn’t compete in the final round And there are still problems until now.

Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand Said that he agreed in principle that the NBTC cut the World Cup from the “Must Have Rule” because the World Cup It is a valuable product. It is believed that the private sector will be interested in offering to buy the rights. Reducing the burden on the government sector and will make the person who has the copyright Can be used for marketing and manage the rights to broadcast live To earn money according to the copyright obtained from the Internati
onal Football Federation or FIFA.

Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand Still showing concern and having things to be careful about when liberalizing. Because private sector investment must be done in a profit-seeking business. The government must take care of football fans who cannot access live broadcasts. Had the opportunity to watch the World Cup But we must look at future directions and conditions.

For the must have rule It was originally scheduled to broadcast 7 sports events for free, including the SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games. olympic games Paralympic Games and World Cup, but now there will be only 6 events.

Once the NBTC board has made a decision, Thai football fans will have to wait and see what the next World Cup will be. Will any private sector dare to invest and buy copyrights that have enormous value? Do you want to do marketing? And if in the future the “War Elephants” Thai national team can pass to play in the final round. We will be able to sit and chee
r for Thailand with all our hearts. Through the free TV screen or not? .

Source: Thai News Agency