Hanoi sports officials have outlined preparations for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, targeting strong medal performances across multiple disciplines including sepak takraw, wushu, athletics, and boxing. According to local sports authorities, the city’s training and talent development initiatives continue to supply a substantial contingent of athletes to Vietnam’s national teams ahead of the continental competition.
Sepak Takraw Contingent and World Championship Momentum
Preparations for the 20th Asian Games have been bolstered by recent success in international sepak takraw competition. At the World Championships held in Thailand in 2026, the Vietnamese national team captured four total medals, consisting of one gold, two silver, and one bronze, according to tournament records. The highlight of the campaign came when the Vietnamese women’s team secured their first-ever world championship gold medal in the women’s doubles event, defeating Myanmar 2-0 in the final.
The core of that winning doubles squad featured Hanoi-native athletes Nguyễn Thị Thu Trang and Nguyễn Thị Khánh Lý. Meanwhile, in the women’s regu (four-person) event where Vietnam claimed a silver medal, Nguyễn Thị Yến served as the sole representative selected from Hanoi. Having previously contributed to Vietnam’s gold medal win in the four-person event four years prior, Nguyễn Thị Yến returns to the squad for the Asian Games.
According to Ha Tung Lap, head of the sepak takraw department at the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center, Hanoi has contributed a total of nine athletes to the national training pool for the Games, comprising six men and three women. Sports administrators attribute this representation to targeted training pipelines developed within the municipal system.
Wushu Veteran Targets Fifth Asian Games Appearance
In wushu, veteran athlete Dương Thúy Vi enters her fifth Asian Games appearance. At 33 years old, the Hanoi-born competitor has confirmed that this continental showcase will mark the final major tournament of her competitive career.
Having first claimed an Asian Games gold medal at the 2014 Games, Dương Thúy Vi will compete in the combined jianshu (swordplay) and qiangshu (spearplay) events at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Because the competition awards medals based on total combined scores across both disciplines, her podium prospects rely on maintaining technical consistency across routines.
“The competitors from China are exceptionally strong in these events,” Dương Thúy Vi noted regarding the competitive field. Rather than repeating past gold-medal expectations, sports observers view her final campaign as a test of elite longevity spanning more than a decade at the highest international level.
Track and Field and Women’s Boxing Expectations
Vietnam’s track and field delegation has adjusted training schedules to address regional climate conditions. Hanoi-based sprinters Hoàng Thị Minh Hạnh and Nguyễn Thị Hằng have been integrated into the women’s 4x400m relay squad. To accelerate environmental adaptation, the relay team was among the first groups dispatched to Japan for early training camps ahead of the Games.
In combat sports, the women’s boxing team carries strong regional expectations alongside deep international competition. Three of the four boxers representing Vietnam in the national squad originate from Hanoi: Nguyễn Thị Tâm, Hà Thị Linh, and Lưu Diễm Quỳnh. Continental competition features elite programs from North Korea, Japan, China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Nguyễn Thị Tâm, who targets a podium finish, relies on extensive international experience alongside teammate Hà Thị Linh. Securing medals will depend heavily on sustained performance control, tactical composure, and favorable tournament bracketing.
Building on Past Continental Successes
The current preparations build upon the milestone achievements recorded at the 19th Asian Games, where Hanoi athletes secured 12 total medals, including two gold, three silver, and seven bronze. That performance marked the third continental cycle in which Hanoi representatives contributed gold medals to the broader Vietnamese delegation.
Municipal sports administrators emphasize that sustained investment, specialized training regimens, and tailored incentive policies remain essential for maintaining competitive parity against continental powerhouses as the 20th Asian Games approach.