The journey to those major sporting arenas has never been a smooth road. It is a journey of willpower, aspiration, and cautious yet resolute steps, so that from humble beginnings, Vietnamese sports have gradually asserted their position on the continental and world sports map.
From the Asian Games to the Olympics
Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, the Asian Games and Olympic Games are far more fiercely competitive, bringing together leading sports nations with superior training systems, sports science , and resources. In this context, each medal won by Vietnamese sports not only represents an achievement but also symbolizes the willpower, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.
At the Asian Games, Vietnamese sports have made remarkable progress, moving from primarily participating with a learning spirit to winning medals in many strong disciplines such as athletics, shooting, taekwondo, karate, sepak takraw, rowing, and weightlifting. These gold medals are not only individual achievements but also affirm Vietnam's competitive capacity at the continental level, reflecting the effectiveness of a targeted investment strategy, the selection of strong disciplines, and the systematic development of a successor generation of athletes.
The first historical milestone worth mentioning is the gold medal won by martial artist Tran Quang Ha at the 1994 Asian Games. This achievement held special significance given the country's economic difficulties and limited training resources. This victory not only ushered in a new era for Vietnamese sports but also ignited strong belief in the competitiveness of Vietnamese athletes on the continental stage.
Subsequently, the Olympic silver medal won by taekwondo fighter Tran Hieu Ngan at the 2000 Sydney Olympics marked the first time Vietnamese sports had stepped onto the Olympic podium. These were not only historic achievements but also opened up a strategic direction for focused investment in sports with the potential to compete at the world level.
The pinnacle of that journey was the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics won by shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh, a historic achievement. This was not only the result of individual excellence but also the culmination of a long, scientific preparation process, the support of family and coaches, and especially the increasingly systematic investment of the State in high-performance sports.
These milestones demonstrate that, with the right strategy, scientific preparation, and high determination, Vietnamese sports can absolutely reach continental and world heights. It is a challenging but proud journey, a journey that not only creates achievements but also fosters confidence in succeeding generations of athletes.
From the glory of achievement to the need for innovation
However, behind these medals lie considerable concerns. Compared to many countries in the region and continent, Vietnam's achievements at the Asian Games and Olympics are still modest, not commensurate with its potential and aspirations for development.
One of the core issues is the training of elite athletes. To compete in the Olympics, talent is a necessary but not sufficient condition; more importantly, a modern training system, the support of science and technology, a regular international competition environment, and a reward mechanism that is strong enough to retain and develop athletes.
From a professional perspective, Professor Lam Quang Thanh emphasized: "Vietnamese sports need to apply scientific and technological development and innovation to develop high-performance sports. In modern society, the position of high-performance sports is increasingly important because of the values it brings to people, society, the economy, and promotes the image of each country on the international stage, enhancing national pride and demonstrating the strength of the nation."
According to Professor Lam Quang Thanh, although high-performance sports have seen promising developments, achievements in Olympic sports still lag behind the continent and the world, especially due to limitations in research and application of science and technology in training high-level athletes. To create a breakthrough, Professor Lam Quang Thanh proposed fundamental innovations, ranging from developing elite athletes and applying integrated science in training to digital transformation, improving institutions, and promoting international integration in the field of sports science and technology. These suggestions not only have professional significance but also demand a comprehensive renewal of thinking about sports development, shifting from a movement-based approach to one based on science, data, and long-term strategy.
As the country enters a new stage of development, with the demands of deep integration and global competition, Vietnamese sports cannot simply stop at "winning medals," but need to aim for building a modern, professional sports ecosystem capable of sustainable competition at the continental and global levels.
Embark on a new journey.
The journey from the Asian Games to the Olympics is not just a journey of medals, but also a journey of national aspiration - the aspiration to affirm Vietnam's position on the world sports map.
Each milestone achieved represents progress, but also serves as a reminder that the road ahead is long and full of challenges. For successes to be more than isolated moments, but rather systemic and sustainable achievements, Vietnamese sports need a more radical shift in mindset, strategy, and organizational methods.
This is not just the story of athletes or teams, but a problem facing the entire sports system, from mechanisms, policies, and resources to science, technology, and international cooperation.
And it is from these demands that a new vision is being set: to build a comprehensive and sustainable Vietnamese sports system, strong both in its grassroots movement and capable of conquering Olympic heights. To realize this vision, the core lies not only in increasing resources, but also in allocating and utilizing resources effectively, with a focus on key areas. Identifying the right Olympic sports, developing long-term training programs, and closely linking domestic training with international competition will be decisive factors.
Furthermore, Vietnamese sports need to gradually adopt a modern development model where science and technology, sports biomedicine, and data management become "leverage" for improving performance. More importantly, a dynamic sports ecosystem must be built, in which the state plays a facilitating role, while society, businesses, and organizations participate in development. It is through this synchronized movement that sports will not only reach new heights but also spread its values far and wide, becoming a highly promising socio-economic sector in the country's new development phase.
This also serves as a natural transition to the next stage – where sports are not only focused on achievement, but also become a crucial driving force in economic and social development and improving the quality of the nation's human resources.
(To be continued)
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/bai-3-nhung-dau-moc-vang-214237.html
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