Thailand

HONG KONG — Udorn Duangdecha shot an 8-under 62 behind 10 birdies Thursday to lead Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands by one stroke after the first round of the Hong Kong Open.

Bryan Robson, the former Manchester United and England legend who is currently coaching Thailand's national football team, said his boys are ready for the crucial match against Singapore on Saturday.

Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will be up against each other in the Hua Hin Centennial Invitation tennis match next year.

Vietnam’s U19 squad suffered a 0-1 defeat to Thailand in Bangkok Sunday at the qualifying round of the 2010 Asian Under-19 Football Championship.

Vietnam’s Under-23 squad and Thailand fought to a scoreless draw at My Dinh Stadium on the final day of the Vietnam Football Federation Cup on Monday.

Former England captain Bryan Robson began his international coaching career with a 1-1 draw for his Thailand team in a friendly against Syria on Sunday.

Group A has defending champions Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, East Timor and Cambodia. Hosts Laos are in Group B together with runners-up Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.

Thailand's top footballers will receive free burgers as part of their new three-year, £545,000 sponsorship deal with the fast food giant McDonald's.

Thongchai Jaidee revealed that Tiger Woods spoke to him in Thai during the opening round of the HSBC Champions. Woods' mother Kultida is Thai and it appears she has passed on some of the language to Tiger.

Korn Chatikavanij, the Thai Finance Minister, said that ASEAN countries should band together and put in a concerted bid to host the FIFA World Cup in the future.