Hai Phong gears up for National Games
Hai Phong’s elite sports teams are targeting a top-five finish in the overall medal standings at the 10th National Games.
Quietly building strength
The 10th National Games is scheduled for November and December 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. Aiming to finish among the top five delegations overall, Hai Phong has identified the event as a key priority for its elite sports this year. Rather than spreading resources across numerous competitions, the city is focusing on key sports and developing training plans to help athletes reach peak condition before competition.
Rowing and canoeing are among the sports receiving substantial investment. The city's canoeing and rowing teams are training at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center in Thailand, which offers favorable water conditions and modern equipment and recovery systems. There, athletes are improving their physical fitness while training alongside some of the region's leading paddlers.
“Training conditions in Thailand are excellent, from the boats and fitness facilities to the living environment. Training alongside strong Thai athletes allows us to learn new techniques and training methods. This is a great opportunity to improve our skills before the Games,” said Hai Phong rower Do Thi Thanh Thao.
Hai Phong's wrestlers are training intensively in Nanning, China. The fencing team is honing its skills in Shanghai, China, to build physical fitness and improve technical performance. Meanwhile, the archery team continues to work with South Korean experts, gaining exposure to modern training methods, refining techniques and improving consistency with every shot…
Focusing on medal-winning sports
Medal statistics from previous National Games show that much of Hai Phong's success came from key sports, including rowing, wrestling, shooting, archery, athletics, weightlifting, tug of war, stick pushing and aerobics. These sports continue to receive priority in funding, training time and opportunities to compete against strong opponents.
“We are training with strong determination and doing our utmost to compete for the pride of our city and fulfill our assigned mission,” said rowing coach Nguyen Thi Loan.
In wrestling, athletes maintain high training intensity, focusing on endurance and refining their combat techniques. Combining experienced competitors with younger athletes gives the team greater depth and strengthens its prospects of competing for medals across multiple weight categories.
In tug of war, coach Nguyen Dinh Quan said training focuses not only on strength but also on teamwork and coordination, which are decisive factors in closely contested matches.
The aerobic team maintains a demanding training schedule, with high requirements for techniques, physical fitness and synchronization in every routine. Movements are meticulously refined to improve precision.
Alongside technical training, nutrition, recovery and sports medicine are receiving close attention to help athletes maintain peak physical condition throughout the preparation cycle.
Waiting for the moment to shine
Unlike the lively atmosphere of regular competitions, Hai Phong's teams have largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent days, focusing on lengthy training sessions. Athletes are devoting most of their time to refining their skills, building fitness and mentally preparing for competition.
According to coach Nguyen Xuan Thao, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Culture and Sports Center, reducing the number of competitions toward the end of the preparation period is a deliberate strategy to limit injuries and help athletes peak at the right time for the Games.
Domestic and international training camps not only help athletes improve their abilities and gain exposure to advanced training methods, but also give them opportunities to learn from strong opponents.
From the oars cutting through Thailand's waters and wrestling moves practiced in China to arrows released from bows and weights lifted in training halls, Hai Phong's teams are working toward medals at the 10th National Games. As the opening date approaches, the port city's athletes continue their quiet preparations, waiting for the moment to step onto the competition floor and demonstrate their strength.
PHAN ANH