Tennis star off to the US

Thanks to the scholarship, Ha will have the opportunity to join a training programme for Vietnamese athletes under a programme to assist them to lift their game before the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The scholarship is worth $600 per month, allowing Ha to practice at an IOC tennis training centre in the US. The IOC has further suggested Vietnamese tennis officials submit a petition for further IOC funding for Ha till 2012.

Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, Nguyen Hong Minh, said, “The IOC has offered good conditions, which not o­nly benefit Vietnam but also Ha, her family and the tennis sports.”

In the US, Ha will participate in large tournaments to gain experience, improve her match skills and her position in the World Tennis Association rankings.
Also gaining scholarships were badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh and a handful of other athletes.