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While Vietnam has made strides in sports in recent years, its performance at major events like the Olympics and Asian Games remains modest. At the Olympics, Vietnam’s results have been inconsistent and on a downward trajectory. For instance, at the 2012 London Olympics, 18 Vietnamese athletes qualified, and the country took home one bronze medal in weightlifting. In contrast, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 23 athletes participated, winning one gold and one silver medal in shooting, thanks to the impressive performance of Hoang Xuan Vinh. However, this success did not continue at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics or the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, with Vietnam sending fewer athletes and failing to secure any medals. The nation’s performance at the Asian Games followed a similar pattern, with a gradual decline in gold medals from 2014 to 2022 (held in 2023 due to COVID-19). Vietnamese shooters perfect their aim during a training session. Photo: Hoang Tung / Tuoi Tre Despite consistent...

The JOOLA 2025 Pickleball Legends Tour across Asia is an exciting sporting event that will bring together some of the biggest names in pickleball and tennis. As part of this tour, Vietnam will play host to renowned athletes, including Agassi, Ben Johns, Ana Bright, Tyson McGuffin, Brooker Buckner, Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang, and tennis legend, Agassi. From Wednesday to Saturday, these stars will be touring Vietnam and China, sharing their passion for pickleball with enthusiasts in both countries. Agassi, a name synonymous with tennis excellence, expressed his enthusiasm for the tour, stating that he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to connect with the community in China and Vietnam and spread the joy of pickleball. Agassi’s illustrious tennis career spanned three decades, starting in 1986. During this time, he climbed to the pinnacle of the ATP rankings, amassed eight Grand Slam titles, and stood atop the Olympic podium with a gold medal in 1996. Now, at 54, he continues to leave his mark o...

The first leg of this thrilling encounter ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw in Rotterdam on Thursday, with Spain scoring a stoppage-time equalizer. Now, the European champions have the advantage of playing at home in the second leg. “I expect another intense match,” said Koeman at a press conference on Saturday. “Both teams can learn from the first leg and will make adjustments. Spain had moments where they were under pressure, and they will surely look to improve in those areas. We also need to do better and make the most of our chances.” Despite the challenge, Koeman believes his team has what it takes to upset the hosts and advance to the semi-finals, where they would face either Croatia or France. The Croatians currently hold a 2-0 lead going into their return leg in Paris. “We had our opportunities in the first leg, and we need to be more clinical in the second leg,” Koeman reflected. “There are areas we need to improve, and I’m confident we will see a stronger performance tomorrow...

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in LaLiga on February 8, 2025, at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The match was a tale of two halves, with Atletico dominating the first 45 minutes and taking the lead through a 35th-minute penalty converted by Alvarez. However, Real roared back after the break, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the equalizer in the 50th minute. This result kept Real at the top of the league table with 50 points, just one point ahead of second-placed Atletico. Barcelona, in third place with 45 points, had the opportunity to close the gap when they visited Sevilla on Sunday. Atletico’s impressive form ahead of the match, with 19 wins in their previous 21 games across all competitions, was reflected in their strong performance in the first half. Their solid defense, the best in Europe’s top five leagues, frustrated Real’s stellar attack, who couldn’t register a single shot on target before halftime. Atletico’s wing play, particularly through Samue...

On the morning of Thursday last week, a meeting was convened between tournament organizers and the Vietnamese cycling team to address the truck fire that caused extensive damage to their equipment. A mutual agreement was reached, wherein the Vietnamese team would borrow bikes from the host team and other participating teams for the duration of the competition. Additionally, the organizers took initiative by gathering information about the cyclists’ sizes, as well as their needs for helmets and shoes, to ensure they were provided with suitable gear. Thailand’s Vietnam Motorcycle and Bicycle Association has stepped up to the challenge, offering seven individual time trial bikes and helmets for the Vietnamese team’s use, along with ongoing efforts to procure shoes and pedals by Thursday. In parallel, the association is expediting the shipment of road bikes from Vietnam, expected to arrive in Thailand on February 10, ensuring a timely solution. A critical aspect of the meeting was the...

The unexpected success of Morocco in reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals has sparked a wave of optimism across the continent, with many believing that an African nation lifting the trophy is no longer a distant dream. Benjamin Balkin, co-founder of Eyeball, a digital platform launched in 2020, shares this sentiment and believes that his platform could be a pivotal factor in making this a reality. Describing himself light-heartedly as a “failed footballer,” Balkin’s own experiences as a youth player at Monaco, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, fueled his passion for creating a platform that showcases talent that might otherwise be overlooked. This passion led to Eyeball’s investment in the United Future League, an Under-19 championship for Senegalese academies, as well as providing video cameras to 5,000 youth coaches worldwide. The coaches film training sessions and tag individual players, with the footage then uploaded to the platform....

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), stands accused of sexual assault and attempting to coerce Jennifer Hermoso, a prominent Spanish footballer, into declaring that a kiss between them was consensual. The incident, which occurred during the 2023 Women’s World Cup celebrations, sparked outrage and brought to light issues of sexism and inequality in Spanish football. The controversy surrounding Rubiales’ actions overshadowed the Spanish women’s team’s triumph in Australia and galvanized a “Me Too” movement within the sport. Rubiales, along with other RFEF officials, including former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, is alleged to have pressured Hermoso to downplay the incident. The prosecution seeks a 2-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, although a sentence under two years could be commuted to damages if there are no prior convictions. Protesters gathered in Madrid to show their support for Jennifer Hermoso and spe...

A thrilling night of football saw 18 teams battle it out in the final group matchday of the competition’s new format. With a stacked goal tally, the night concluded with the traditional powerhouses remaining undefeated. Liverpool and Barcelona shone as the only teams assured of a spot in the top eight, progressing directly to the round of 16. Despite Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven and Barca’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta, they maintained their first and second rankings, respectively. Joining them in the next round are Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Lille. Lille, in particular, delivered the performance of the night, thrashing Feyenoord 6-1. Manchester City, the 2023 European champions, faced a challenging first half at the Etihad. However, they bounced back in the second half, with goals from Mateo Kovacic, Joel Ordonez (own goal), and Savinho securing their progression. PSG, starting in 22nd place, swiftly rose to the occasion, racing to...

Roberto Martinez’s successor has been named, and it’s none other than Rudi Garcia. The Belgian football association has appointed the Frenchman as their new boss, choosing him over competitors like Thierry Henry, Julen Lopetegui, and Mark van Bommel. This announcement came earlier in the day, marking an exciting new chapter for Belgian football. At 60 years old, Garcia brings a wealth of experience to the table. He has previously coached notable clubs like Napoli, Lyon, and Roma, and his task now is to convince Thibaut Courtois to return to the national team. Courtois, who is considered by Garcia as the best goalkeeper in the world, had self-exiled himself due to differences with former coach Domenico Tedesco. Garcia, addressing the media during his unveiling, expressed his confidence in Courtois’ quality and shared his optimism about initial positive signals from the goalkeeper. While Matz Sels and Koen Casteels are capable options, getting Courtois back would be a massive boost for...

The Hanoi Police FC, managed by the Hanoi Department of Public Security, started the match strongly with a goal from midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai in the 10th minute. The player skillfully controlled a long pass from his teammate before finishing decisively. Both teams then engaged in an open, attacking game, creating an exciting contest. Kuala Lumpur, however, found an equalizer in the 24th minute through Adrijan Rudovic’s header from a corner kick. The Malaysian team took the lead just eight minutes later. A delicate header from Paulo Josue beat the Hanoi goalkeeper, Nguyen Filip, putting the score at 2-1. After halftime, coach Alexandre Polking made strategic adjustments to the lineup, which paid dividends. Cong An Hanoi came out with renewed energy and improved performance in the second half. Their efforts were rewarded in the 67th minute when Bui Hoang Viet Anh scored from a corner kick, equalizing the match at 2-2. As the game intensified, Kuala Lumpur adopted an aggressive ap...

In a resignation letter submitted on December 31, 2024, to the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and the provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, Huong (born in 2001) brought attention to the fact that she had not received medal bonuses from domestic competitions between 2022 and 2024, nor nutritional support for the year 2024. Huong respectfully yet firmly stated in her letter, “Due to personal and family circumstances, I am requesting a leave of absence from training in canoeing for Vinh Phuc Province, effective January 1, 2025.” Despite the financial setbacks and her expressed desire to step away from training for her hometown, Huong remains dedicated to her sport and continues her training with the national canoeing team in Hai Phong City. Huong is an exceptional athlete and a leading figure in Vietnamese canoeing. Her achievements include a silver medal at the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships in Japan and participation in the Paris 2024 Olympi...

With two consecutive wins under their belt, the team had already guaranteed their advancement before the game. The match against Taiwan, therefore, served as a decisive battle to crown the Group D category champions. The game commenced with Taiwan seizing an early lead in the initial 10 minutes, prompting a swift timeout from Vietnamese head coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang. Displaying resilience and tactical prowess, Vietnam responded magnificently, equalizing just a minute later. The goal was a testament to their teamwork, as Thuy Trang’s precise pass found Bien Thi Hang on the right wing. Hang then demonstrated her vision, delivering a perfect cross to Thanh Ngan, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. However, Taiwan struck back in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick. Su Hui Chi’s delivery was deftly flicked on by Lin Dai Chi, creating the opportunity for Liu Chih Ling to slot home from close range. Vietnamese athlete Thuy Trang (in red) showcases her pro...