Vietnam will participate for the first time in the Badminton World Federation Sudirman Cup 2011, which will be held in China from May 22-29.
33 teams have confirmed their participation in the event. The tournament will be divided into four groups, with twelve teams in the elite group competing for the title. Eight teams will be divided into the second and third groups, while only four teams will compete in the fourth group.
According to the Badminton World Federation, Vietnam is in 3B group with Bulgaria, Sweden and South Africa.
The six players in the Vietnamese team include Nguyen Tien Minh, Dao Manh Thang, Bui Bang Duc, Vu Thi Trang, Nguyen Thi Sen and Thai Thi Hong Gam.
The ‘Sudirman Cup’ is a World Team Championships, held every two years and is one of the most prestigious titles in badminton. It is also the only BWF world event for men and women competing together from national teams. The event was first hosted in 1989 with 28 national teams. It now attracts more than 50 national teams.
In related news, Vietnamese swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc got a ticket to take part in the London Olympics 2012, after achieving a score of 53min 56sec in the men’s 100m butterfly swimming at the Malaysian Open Swimming on May 15.
In addition, Vietnamese swimmers will join the 2011 World Swimming Championship, which will be held in China in July.
At the Malaysian Open Swimming, the Vietnamese team won three gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze.
