He believes that the first competition of 2026 is an opportunity to try his best.
SEA Games 33 is a beautiful memory
Nguyen Hong Trong won the men's 54kg weight class championship in taekwondo at SEA Games 33 last year. Experts have noted that after 22 years, the Vietnamese taekwondo team has a martial artist who won a Gold Medal in the men's 54kg event at the SEA Games arena.
“I participated in SEA Games 33 with the most concentration. In the professional preparation process, the coaches guided and shared many experiences for me to improve further. Entering the competition, my only belief is to strive to achieve the best results. I am completely not under pressure” - martial artist Nguyen Hong Trong confided after the 54kg men's final at SEA Games 33.
Recalling the moment of winning to get the Gold Medal at that time, Hong Trong said that memories at the SEA Games 33 arena are very difficult to fade for him. At the 32nd SEA Games held two years earlier in Cambodia, Hong Trong was one of the people expected to win a medal. Fate did not please the male athlete when he failed and did not win a medal. Hong Trong understands that playing at the 32nd SEA Games brings him many lessons and must set a goal of not failing if he has the opportunity to return to the SEA Games.
On the arena at SEA Games 33, Hong Trong competed with Indonesia's opponent in the final and won. All Vietnamese taekwondo fans clearly remember Hong Trong wiping away tears of emotion and sharing with the media right on the arena at that time: "I don't know what to say, this is a very indescribable emotion. I would like to send this Gold Medal to all Vietnamese sports fans".
SEA Games 33 passed with a beautiful memory for Nguyen Hong Trong personally. From the beginning of 2026, the male martial artist returned to training with the Vietnamese taekwondo team and focused on the top task of continuing to achieve the best results because many important tournaments will take place this year.
Determined to start 2026 successfully
At the time this article was published, martial artist Nguyen Hong Trong, a member of the Vietnamese taekwondo team, had moved to Las Vegas (USA) to compete in the 2026 US Open Championship (starting on March 8th). This is the first international mission in 2026 for Nguyen Hong Trong and his teammates.
This year, many international tournaments will take place. Since SEA Games 33, we have learned a lot of experience so that each athlete can improve their expertise. After training from the beginning of the year, my spirit is very confident to enter the tournament in the US. Each tournament has different challenges, but everyone is very confident that a good start will bring smoothness throughout the year," martial artist Nguyen Hong Trong added.
Hong Trong is a humble person. Every time he jokingly jokes with the martial artist and affectionately calls him "SEA Games champion", Hong Trong smiles shyly, saying that he still tries to practice every day, that title will make him feel pressured. Since starting to practice martial arts to become a professional taekwondo athlete, Nguyen Hong Trong has always received high appreciation from professional coaches.
Former coach Vu Anh Tuan of the Vietnamese taekwondo team once assessed Hong Trong as a very disciplined martial artist in training as well as knowing how to learn and accumulate expertise for himself in each important tournament. Korean expert - Kim Kil Tae said that his student Nguyen Hong Trong has enough professional factors to develop long-term because above all, the spirit and determination to try his best in all circumstances of this martial artist is his strength. Mr. Kim Kil Tae is directly present in the US with Hong Trong and the Vietnamese taekwondo team participating in the tournament.
The Vietnamese taekwondo team is very focused on competing at the 2026 US Open Championship. Simply put, this is not just a tournament to compete for professional achievements. The tournament is also the beginning of the new year and professionals do not want to miss the best results.
When assessing Hong Trong's chances to predict achievements at the 2026 US Open Championship, a representative of the coaching staff of the Vietnamese taekwondo team shared very cautiously that: "Hong Trong is someone who is capable of deciding his own competition results.
Believing in Olympic opportunities
This year, the Vietnamese taekwondo team is facing the top priority task of winning achievements at ASIAD 20 to be held in September in Japan. However, Nguyen Hong Trong is still waiting for an opportunity to reach further achievements, which is to find a ticket to participate in the Olympics.
In March 2024, Nguyen Hong Trong was one of the four key martial artists of the Vietnamese taekwondo team to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Round to compete for a place at the Paris Olympics (France) 2024. At that time, Hong Trong participated in the 58kg weight class. The qualifying round match has very different professional values. With a bit of bad luck, Hong Trong could not achieve an official place to France to compete in the Olympics.
Remembering when returning home after this Olympic qualifying tournament, Nguyen Hong Trong could not hide his sadness because it was the last chance for the Vietnamese taekwondo team to compete for an official spot in France. "I still believe that effort and concentration will bring better results ahead. I return after each tournament with my highest determination," martial artist Nguyen Hong Trong confided.
At the upcoming ASIAD 20, the men's 58kg weight class continues to be in the official competition program. However, the Team
Vietnamese taekwondo still has to carefully review the force so that key athletes have the opportunity to compete to win official tickets to the Games. Representatives of the coaching staff of the Vietnamese taekwondo team said that the opportunity to compete for an Olympic ticket is divided equally among all athletes who are focusing on national duties.
Of course, the athlete who develops their ability to succeed will be awarded a ticket to participate in the qualifying round for ASIAD 20. After ASIAD 20, the Vietnamese taekwondo team will calculate the force to compete in the Olympic qualifying rounds.
Martial artist Hong Trong is developing his expertise very effectively every year. Everyone knows clearly that in martial arts, especially in sparring events, athletes must prepare many factors from spirit, goals to personal ability. Martial artist Hong Trong is one of the people who is highly trusted by the coaching staff to maximize their abilities," said the representative of the coaching staff of the Vietnamese taekwondo team.
The 2027 and 2028 cycles will be the time for many qualifying tournaments for the Los Angeles (USA) 2028 Olympic spots. Boxer Nguyen Hong Trong has his opportunities. Above all, the mark at SEA Games 33 is already a professional guarantee for managers to see the ability of this boxer.
This May, my teammates and I will have the opportunity to participate in the 2026 Asian Championships. The best fighters of the continent will definitely participate. I am very hopeful that I will ensure my form to receive an official ticket to participate in the above tournament. From the Asian results, we will have more confidence to prepare for the long-term goals afterwards," Nguyen Hong Trong added.
