The focus is on the SEA Games or the ASIAD?
The two tasks of the SEA Games (Southeast Asian level) and the ASIAD (Asia level) must be carried out simultaneously by the Vietnamese athletics management at this time. However, which task will be more important is not yet clear. Because when the Games are about to take place, Vietnamese sports all focus all their efforts on their expertise (including coaches and athletes) to compete.
With the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnam Athletics Team aims to win 12 Gold Medals. With the 20th ASIAD in 2026, Vietnam Athletics has built a plan to strive to win at least 1 Gold Medal. These two tournaments have been close together for some time. For that reason, each key content of the Vietnam Athletics Team needs a continuous force of athletes, young and strong, ensuring the set tasks.
In a professional report to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the live inspection on the training ground at the National High-level Athletes' Training Center (Hanoi), the Athletics Team Coaching Board determined that key professional groups must ensure the goal of winning 12 Gold Medals.
The strength of the Vietnam Athletics Team in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games has begun to rejuvenate in many fields to be a good foundation for the next stage. According to practical expertise, the Vietnam Athletics Team predicts that from the 33rd SEA Games to the 20th ASIAD, the women's 4x400m relay event will be expected to achieve the highest results.
For this long-term strategy, the force is gradually getting younger by having player Quach Thi Lan (30 years old) not participate in the event but being replaced by young face Le Thi Tuyet Mai (19 years old) in the women's 4x400m relay squad.
Accompanying the Asian Athletics Federation
Mr. Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad - President of the Asian Athletics Federation - is working in Vietnam and this is a rare opportunity for the Vietnam Athletics Federation to move towards future cooperation.
At the meeting with Mr. Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, leaders of the Vietnam Department of Physical Training and Sports and the Vietnam Athletics Federation believed that the Asian Athletics Federation would introduce good experts to help us professionally in our athletics to realize the Gold Medal results at the ASIAD arena.
One of the positive signals is that the Asian Athletics Federation can create conditions for Vietnamese athletes and coaches to enjoy their infrastructure. In simple terms, Vietnamese athletes and coaches have the opportunity to practice at the Asian Athletics Confederation's Professional Centers if we implement the training program.
After football, athletics is the first high-performance sport with a separate Development Project approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The project to develop Vietnam's athletics until 2030, with a vision to 2045, issued from August 2025, has many goals and one of them focuses on developing this sport as a spearhead sport, playing a key role in the national high-performance sports system.
Along with that, the Project is being implemented to gradually improve professional qualifications, training quality and facilities, and a more modern and professional Vietnam Athletics competition organization system. Our goal is to maintain our position as one of the two leading countries in Southeast Asia in athletics, capable of winning an ASIAD medal and participating in the Olympic arena.
