Acceleration for the final stage
There are only more than 10 days left until ASIAD 20 officially kicks off. Currently, the teams maintain training according to professional training plans through domestic and international training sessions to accumulate physical strength, improve technique and maintain their peak form.
Athletics returned from China and immediately trained at the National High-Level Athlete Training Center. The gymnastics team completed the test with 8 athletes expected to compete. Karate, judo, taekwondo, jujitsu maintained the curriculum, while wushu, cycling, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing continued to train abroad.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Department, Head of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation at ASIAD 20, this time the preparation work has changed both in the model and the way of building forces when applying the "public-private" resource combination method.
Out of a total of 498 members of the delegation, the State budget ensures funding for 303 members of the core force, and the remaining 155 members participate from socialized sources or are self-sufficient by localities and federations. This approach both reduces budget pressure and expands the ability to mobilize resources for the delegation.
In terms of expertise, Vietnam sent 303 athletes to compete in 33 sports and sub-sports. Mr. Minh said that this year's force is allocated according to a three-key group model. The first group are experienced athletes with the highest medal competition ability; the second group are potential factors approaching the top group, ready to create breakthroughs; the remaining group are promising young talents.
This personnel structure ensures continuous succession, both aiming for immediate professional goals and building a long-term launching pad for the future.
Target based on strengths
At ASIAD 20, Vietnamese sports set a target of winning 4-6 Gold Medals. At the previous Games, Vietnam won 3 Gold Medals. This time, the sports industry continues to place expectations on sports that have a foundation of achievements, and at the same time seeks opportunities from some events that are approaching the top group in the continent.
Shooting, sepak takraw and karate are 3 sports assigned the task of defending the Gold Medal won at ASIAD 19. This is also the group considered the fulcrum of the Vietnamese delegation.
In addition, athletics, rowing, canoeing, gymnastics and esports can create more opportunities if athletes reach high performance.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh said: "The target of 4 or more Gold Medals at this congress is built on the reality of the force, completely not subjectively imposed. To be fair, we do not see this target as a mere achievement pressure, but see it as a measure of progress and efforts to overcome our own limits.
According to Mr. Hong Minh, the determination of targets is based on 3 main factors. The first is to maintain the foundation and know how to exploit potential content. The stable personnel framework brought home 3 Gold Medals in the previous period, which are shooting, sepak takraw, karate and some additional content in boat racing, athletics or esports.
Next, the current goal is consistent with the roadmap of the Program "Developing key sports to prepare for ASIAD and Olympic Games in the period 2026 - 2045". This is a necessary step to more clearly define the country's professional position on the continental map.
Third is the fundamental change in preparation methods. Instead of spreading resources for a wide area, the sports industry has established a deep investment regime in funding, nutrition and foreign experts for key athletes.
In the final preparation stage, the biggest requirement for teams is to maintain stability and bring athletes to the best state at the right time for competition.
