vietexplorer0047

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 pinnacle of this collaboration between Lion City Sailors FC and Cong An Ha Noi FC will be an international friendly match in 2025, bringing together two powerhouse clubs from Singapore and Vietnam. This match symbolizes more than just a sporting event; it celebrates the profound and growing connection between these two nations. Scheduled to coincide with Singapore’s 60th and Vietnam’s 80th independence anniversaries, this exhibition match also underscores the enhanced bilateral ties, elevated this month to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Lion City Sailors FC and Cong An Ha Noi FC share a vision for football that extends beyond the pitch. By leveraging their platforms, they aim to foster greater regional engagement and utilize football as a powerful tool to build bridges between people, strengthening the social fabric of the community. In addition to the showcase of elite football talent, the clubs will collaborate closely in the realm of youth development, exchanging expe...

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...

In a historic move, renowned Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a significant shift for the organization. Coventry, already an iconic figure in Olympic circles, prevailed over other candidates in a single round of voting, securing 49 out of 97 votes. With a beaming smile, Coventry expressed her gratitude and the significance of this moment, stating, “It’s a really powerful signal… It’s a signal that we’re truly global, and that we have evolved into an organization that is truly open to diversity, and we’re going to continue.” The election of Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist, signifies more than just a change in leadership. It represents a new era for the IOC, with her victory serving as a testament to the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and evolution. Coventry’s background as a successful athlete and her subsequent involvement in the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission in 2012 bring a u...

The highly anticipated annual sporting event is back and bigger than ever, with an exciting line-up of races and a record-breaking number of international participants. This year, the competition will offer a range of distances to cater to runners of all levels, including a full marathon (42km), a half marathon (21km), and a 5km race. There will also be two fun-filled Ronny Dash events for children, with distances of 500m and 1.5km. With an expected attendance of over 7,000 athletes, the energy and enthusiasm are sure to be electric. What’s even more remarkable is the significant increase in international participation. Approximately 3,000 runners from 72 countries and territories are set to join, marking a 42-percent surge from 2024. This impressive statistic accounts for 41 percent of the total participants, setting a new record and highlighting Da Nang’s growing reputation as a world-class sports and tourism hub. The marathon will feature an elite field of athletes, including ren...

Visma’s Jorgenson, a Nice resident, began last Sunday as his team’s co-leader alongside two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, who unfortunately had to withdraw midweek due to a hand injury. Jorgenson described the week as “stressful” but was proud to have made it through. He and his team knew it would be a challenging and exhausting race, but their hard work paid off. Expressing his joy, Jorgenson said, “I’m happy to be on this team, and man, I won this race two years in a row.” He and Sheffield have been racing partners since their junior days, and he was pleased to see Sheffield’s victory, stating, “I’ll try and catch him later.” Jorgenson’s teammates couldn’t contain their excitement as they witnessed the Californian secure the win. Axel Zingle, his French teammate, praised Jorgenson’s leadership qualities, noting his commitment, perfectionism, and motivation. According to Zingle, “We really want to do everything we can to support him as best we can.” Vingegaard has...

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...

Novak Djokovic declined to participate in the customary on-court interview following his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday, pending a public apology from Alan Jones and Australian broadcast rights holders, Channel Nine . This came after Jones mocked Djokovic and Serbian fans who had gathered outside the broadcast booth at Melbourne Park, stating that the 24-time Grand Slam champion was “over-rated” and a “has-been.” In a Channel Nine interview on Monday, Jones reflected on the incident, describing his comments as “banter” and expressing his regret over any offense caused. He mentioned that he had immediately offered a private apology to Djokovic’s team once he realized his words had not been taken lightly. “I stand by my apology to Novak,” Jones asserted. “I also want to extend my apologies to the Serbian fans with whom we’ve built a wonderful rapport. I intended my comments as a continuation of our lighthearted banter, but it’s clear that they were not received in th...