Vietnam to host Asian Indoor Games next year

HANOI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will host the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in mid-October 2009 with the expected participation of 45 countries and regions in the two biggest cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Some 5,000 athletes and trainers, and 800 referees, technical staff and sports officials from 45 countries and regions are expected to attend the nine-day sports event, according to the Vietnam Olympic Committee on Tuesday.

At the 2nd Asian Indoor Games from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, 2007 in China's Macao with the participation of 1,792 athletes from 45 countries and regions, Vietnam ranked the 13th with two gold, five silvers and 11 bronze medals, while China's mainland topping the medal table with 52 gold, 26 silver and 24 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 19-28-22 and China's Hong Kong with 15-9-11.

The 2007 games included 15 events: Aerobics, Billiards, Bowling, Chess, Dance Sport, Dragon and Lion Dance, Electronic Sports (E-Sports), Extreme Sports (X-Sports), Futsal, Hoop Sepaktakraw, Indoor Athletics, Indoor Cycling, Indoor Hockey, Muay and Swimming.