As we close out 2012, DTiNews has narrowed down the list of our top ten most important sport events of the year.
1. Vietnam wins Asian gymnastic gold medal
The top Vietnamese equestrian, Phan Thi Ha Thanh, won a gold medal at the World Gymnastic Championship, held in the Czech Republic. She overcame her two Chilean competitors with a score of 13,963, creating a new record in her home country.
Thanh also won a gold medal for horse jumping at Asian Gymnastics Championship in China and completed the year with another gold medal at the Toyota International Gymnastics Competition in Japan.
Ha Thanh wins three gold medals in 2012
2. Young player bags world chess gold medal
The 10 year old chess player, Nguyen Anh Khoi won the gold medal of World Youth Chess 2012 after ten rounds of consecutive wins in Slovenia.
In June he also brought home two gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka.
3. Vietnam to hold ASIAD 2019
Vietnam overcame the bid to hold the second largest sporting event, taking a chance to promote the country to the world.
This is the first time that the Asian Games will be held in Vietnam, and the Government had already announced a USD150 million investment to be placed toward the Games.
Vietnam wins the bid to host ASIAD Games 2012
4. Vietnam misses the "Olympic gold target"
18 athletes in Vietnam team arrived at the games with them high hopes for winning. However, the team was disappointed with their results.
Perhaps the most regrettable case belong to weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan, shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh and gymnast Ha Thanh, all of whom carried the weight of high expectations but failed to win the medals expected.
5. Sore loss for National football team at AFF Cup 2012
Although the team had hoped to revive interest in a faltering domestic football team, they came back defeated by Thailand at the group level. This is considered to be their poorest performance at the AFF Cup.
Coach Phan Thanh Hung resigned after the games. Many said he was unable to manage the team.
Vietnam national forced to leave AFF Cup early
6. Women's football team championed at Southeast Asian Cup
Defeating the Myanmar team at a score of 4-3, the Vietnam's national womens' team nabbed first place at the Southeast Asian Cup 2012, held in HCMC. After the North Korean team was banned from the next World Cup, expectations have risen even higher, Vietnam's female team may have a chance to participate for the first time.
Women's national football team takes Southeast Asian Cup 2012
7. New Vietnamese swimming record
Swimmer Nguyen Anh Vien, a young woman of 16, set a new record and won a silver medal at the Dubai Asian Swimming Championships.
She made an impressive showing, with 2'12" in the women's 200 metres backstroke.
8 Danang wins V-League
SHB Danang football club won the Vietnam's top football league V-League 2012.
After a number of scandals marring their season, related to coaches and investors, they came out to take the top spot.
9. Football in Vietnam in crisis
Economics has hit football in Vietnam as hard as it has the market, with many club investors pulling out.
As a result, many clubs, such as Hanoi Football Club and Navibank Saigon were shut down, leaving the players unemployed.
The Vietnam Football Federation and Vietnam Professional Football Company still decided to hold the V-League 2013, with only 12 teams, even though some clubs have announced their intention to withdraw from the league.
10. Underdog upset at National Football Championship
Players from Ninh Thuan Province surprised watchers as they went straight through to the final round in the U21 National Football Championship.
Though they were considered the underdogs, the team performed well all season long and were increasingly supported by their fans. Their only loss was to the formidable team Song Lam Nghe An, at 0-2.
