HO CHI MINH CITY, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Following are Vietnam's top 10 sports news in 2014 selected by state-run Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) on Monday:
1. Indonesia replaces Vietnam as ASIAD 18 host
On Sept. 19, at the request of Vietnam, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) selected Indonesia as the placement host for the next Asian Games in 2019 (ASIAD 18).
Earlier in March 2014, Vietnam withdrew its bid to host the event, citing as the reason its limited experience in organizing such a large sports tournament.
2. The 7th National Sports Festival
The Hanoi team ranked first for the fourth consecutive year in a row at the 7th National Sports Festival. Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien smashed two national records at the festival.
3. ASIAD 17
Vietnamese athletes competed in 21 events at the 17th Asian Games (ASIAD 17) held in South Korea bringing home 1 gold, 10 silver and 25 bronze medals.
The 18-year-old swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien was brilliant winning a bronze medal in the women's 400m individual medley in record time of 4min 39.45sec.
Her win was a milestone for the country as its first ever swimming medal in ASIAD competition history.
Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan, 20, a silver medallist in the 56kg category, broke the Asian record in the jerk at 134kg and lifted 294kg in the snatch.
4. Second Asian Para Games
Vietnam ranked 10th in the overall medal tally at the second Asian Para Games wrapped up in Incheon, South Korea, in October. Athletes brought home nine gold, seven silver and 13 bronze medals. They also set one world record and four Asian records.
Swimmer Vo Thanh Tung in particular won five gold medals. He topped the list in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 200m medley events.
5. Shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh ranked first in the world
In July, Vietnamese shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh earned 1,201 points to clinch the top ranking of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) in the 10m air pistol event.
Earlier in March, he set a new world record in the 10m air pistol finals in the United States at the 2014 World Cup Fort Benning 2014, which marked the first time in history a Vietnamese shooter claimed the top spot of the world.
6. Vietnam missed out on Women's World Cup spot
In May, the Vietnam national team lost its bid for the title at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup. They suffered a narrow and harrowing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Thailand in the fifth-place playoff match.
7. Promising U19 Vietnam football players
Vietnam's U19 football team made domestic fans believe that football competitions in the country will experience a resurgence in 2015 following a period riddled with problems from coaching controversies to match-fixing.
In September, they won 4-1 over Myanmar at My Dinh National Stadium in capital Hanoi. The victory secured the host team a place in the final where they met their formidable opponent Japan.
8. Vietnam disqualified from AFF Cup semifinal
In December the Vietnam national football team failed to capitalize on its 2-1 victory in the first-leg match and missed out the final match after losing 2-4 to Malaysia in the second-leg game in the 2014 Southeast Asian Football Championship - AFF Suzuki Cup, in Hanoi.
The score was 5-4 in favor of Malaysia, and Vietnam has yet to reach the final since its maiden victory in 2008. At this tournament, Vietnam received the Fair Play Award.
9. Nine Vietnamese footballers banned from int'l competitions
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) suspended nine players of The Vissai-Ninh Binh FC for alleged engagement in an AFC Cup 2014 match-fixing scandal. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) received the AFC notification on July 31 which stated the ban would last till November 20, 2014.
10. Vietnam finished fifth at Asian Beach Games 2014
Vietnam was placed fifth at the Asian Beach Games 2014 in Thailand in November after winning eight gold, 12 silver and 20 bronze medals.
Vietnam is set to host the fifth Asian Beach Games 2016.
