Hai Phong shooters accelerate preparations for the 2026 National Sports Games

Overcoming challenges

While athletes competing in air rifle, pistol, and mobile air rifle events train and compete indoors with air conditioning, male and female 50m rifle shooters must practice outdoors. Although the training area is covered, training under scorching heat while wearing thick specialized gear remains a major challenge for the athletes. Male shooters carry equipment weighing around 8 kilograms, while female athletes wear about 6.5 kilograms, in addition to heavy protective clothing, making practice sessions under hot weather extremely exhausting.

According to coach Vu Khanh Hai, regulations of the International Shooting Sport Federation require 50m rifle athletes to wear specialized suits during both training and competition. The heavy suits help athletes stabilize their bodies and maintain a steady shooting posture. For 50m rifle events, hot weather is considered the greatest challenge throughout training and competition. Although the sport does not require high-intensity movement like many others, practicing in harsh weather conditions still places enormous physical demands on shooters.

Besides intense heat, athletes also have to deal with rainy and cold conditions that reduce visibility and negatively affect training quality and competition performance.

Most shooting athletes begin their careers at the age of 10 or 11. If they meet professional requirements and maintain disciplined lifestyles, shooters can enjoy very long careers and may still achieve high results even after the age of 50. Therefore, training becomes a daily routine for every athlete.

To select shooting athletes, coaches evaluate many criteria related to physique and personal qualities, such as straight limbs, stable nerves, the ability to remain unaffected by external factors, as well as patience, perseverance, and dexterity. In the past, shooters were almost required to have excellent eyesight and no nearsightedness. However, thanks to specialized shooting glasses available today, many athletes with vision problems can still train and compete effectively.

Every day after technical practice sessions, athletes are required to complete physical training exercises under coaches’ supervision. Most shooters perform push-ups to strengthen back and abdominal muscles, as well as endurance running to improve cardiovascular fitness. Many people watching on television may think shooting athletes have an easy job, but in reality, this sport consumes tremendous physical energy.

Coach Vu Khanh Hai explained that in the men’s and women’s three-position rifle event, athletes must complete competitions lasting up to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Slow-fire pistol events also last around 1 hour and 45 minutes, while even with electronic targets today, athletes still need about 1 hour and 30 minutes to finish their events.

Targeting the 2026 National Sports Games

One of the most important goals for Hai Phong’s shooting team in 2026 is the 10th National Sports Games, scheduled to take place at the end of the year. At this major nationwide sporting event, held once every four years, the Hai Phong shooting team will compete in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hai Phong’s key shooters are currently training with the national team in preparation for international tournaments, which also serve as an important stage for them to sharpen their skills ahead of domestic competitions and the National Sports Games.

The city’s two leading shooters at present are Nguyen Van Quan and Pham Quang Huy, both members of the national shooting team.

Nguyen Van Quan specializes in rifle shooting. Born in 1990, he began training in 2007 after being discovered through an amateur shooting class in Thanh Ha district. Although no one in his family pursued sports professionally, he has developed steadily over the years. At the 33rd SEA Games in 2025, he won a team gold medal and has also claimed multiple Southeast Asian championship titles in both individual and team events.

Meanwhile, Pham Quang Huy specializes in pistol events at distances of 10m, 25m, and 50m. Born in 1996, he is the son of a famous Hai Phong shooter and has previously won championships at both Asian and Southeast Asian levels, along with numerous domestic titles.

Nguyen Van Quan and Pham Quang Huy will serve as the core athletes of the Hai Phong shooting team at the 10th National Sports Games, where the team aims to win at least three to four gold medals.

In addition, many young Hai Phong shooters are also expected to shine at the Games and other upcoming tournaments, including Bui Gia Han, Ha Dan Truong, Nguyen Viet Nam, Lai Thi Ngoc Huyen, and Nguyen Khanh Linh.

Before the 10th National Sports Games, the Hai Phong shooting team will compete in several important tournaments, including the National Youth Age-Group Shooting Championship, the National Junior Shooting Championship, and the National Outstanding Shooters Championship.

Besides the key athletes Nguyen Van Quan and Pham Quang Huy, the Hai Phong team is also expected to welcome Tran Quoc Cuong as an athlete at the National Sports Games later this year. Currently serving as a coach of the national shooting team and a former Olympian, his participation is considered an important reinforcement that could help Hai Phong’s shooting team achieve and surpass its medal targets.

Tien Huy