Regarding public opinion reflecting that the list of Vietnamese chess teams participating in the 2026 Olympiad does not include all top chess players, the Vietnam Sports Administration has officially provided information to clarify the athlete selection process and the responsibilities of relevant units.
Over the past time, some press agencies have reported that the selection of the women's team to participate in the 2026 Olympiad was carried out through the Zalo group to announce registration, with a short time, causing some athletes to not have time to access information. Among them is information about the group being established on May 9 and the registration deadline is May 10, affecting some chess players.
Before this information, the Vietnam Department of Sports and Physical Training affirmed that the establishment of the Zalo group by the Vietnam Chess Federation is to collect initial registration opinions from athletes, not the official selection decision of the state management agency.
According to the process, after the Vietnam Chess Federation summarizes the list, professional departments will review and report to the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports. Next, the Department will collect opinions from the athlete's managing units before considering and deciding to establish the national team.
The Vietnam Sports Administration emphasized that the establishment of the Zalo group is only the first step in the personnel review process of the Vietnam Chess Federation, not an official selection decision. Up to now, the Administration has not received an official report on the list of teams participating in the 2026 Olympiad.
Immediately after receiving information from the press, the Department requested the Vietnam Chess Federation to report specifically, and at the same time requested to review the entire selection process, ensure compliance with professional criteria, regulations and select the best force for the national team.
The Vietnam Sports Administration affirms that the coordination between state management agencies and professional federations must ensure publicity, transparency, and proper procedures, in order to improve the quality of the team and international competition achievements.
