CULTURE AND SPORT

Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh has qualified for the 2012 Olympics Games in London, said the World Badminton Federation.

Real Madrid claimed their first Spanish title in four years as they beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 for what is their 32nd league crown.

Vietnam’s top chess player Le Quang Liem has regained his International Super Grandmaster title, the World Chess Federation announced on May 1.

Bartenders from nine countries including Vietnam will compete at the first International Bartender Contest in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur backed veteran batsman Ricky Ponting to be a key figure in next year's Ashes series in England, saying the former skipper was "not going anywhere.

Dang Thi Thu Thao, from the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu was crowned Miss Mekong Delta 2012.

The Southern Cuisine Festival kicked off in Can Tho city within the framework of activities to mark the progress of ten years of construction and development in the Mekong Delta region.

The top three wrestlers in each category will earn a place at the Olympics, but competition is set to be fierce.

Hanoi is hosting a programme called ‘Sac Mau Tay Bac’ or Northwestern Colours from April 26-28.

After many years living abroad, Thuy Van and Tuan Hung, famous dancers of the community of overseas Vietnamese, will organize their first show in Vietnam at Tieng Xua night club, HCM City.

Tran Le Quoc Toan is on the verge of grasping an Olympic ticket after he won the silver medal at the ongoing Asian Weightlifting Championships in South Korea.

Manuel Neuer was the hero for Bayern Munich as his side went through to the Champions League final after beating Real Madrid.

Bassoonist Van Thanh Ha will perform recitals at the Workers Theatre, featuring material from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Ferdinand David's Concerto for Bassoon.

Lionel Messi missed a penalty as holders Barcelona were sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals after 10-man Chelsea battled to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou.

Photographer Phan Thanh Cuong won the first prize for veteran artists at the "Southwest Region – 10 Years of Achievements and Development" competition.

Hanoi’s Gravity Games, featuring the best in urban and extreme sports proved a hit with the capital’s young people.

The Audio Vision Global Company (AVG), Vietnam Professional Football (VPF), and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) finalized a deal for TV broadcast rights.

Australia's great Olympic swimming hope James "The Missile" Magnussen was struck by a chest infection which ruled him out of a three-day training camp with his teammates.

Singer Tung Duong has won the Cong Hien or Dedication Award for the fifth time.