Launch pad for young talents

Determined to achieve good results

Held every four years, AYG is an important playground for young talents of the continent, thereby measuring the strength and investment in young athletes of countries and territories. However, after the first time held in 2009 in Singapore, the second time held in Nanjing (China) in 2013, in 2017, the Congress was scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, then Indonesia but was eventually canceled. In 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic caused AYG to be canceled again. Returning in 2025, the Congress was initially scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan, but was later officially hosted by Bahrain.

AYG 2025 created a record number when gathering more than 4,300 male and female athletes aged 14 - 18, from 45 countries and territories, competing in 28 sports. This year, Vietnamese sports participated in AYG 2025 with 75 members, of which the athlete force is 50 people competing in 11 sports including: Badminton (1 athlete), Jujitsu (5), Boxing (3), Judo (2), wrestling (4), athletics (2), Golf (6), weightlifting (4), Taekwondo (6), cycling (6), Muay (11). The goal of the delegation is to strive to win 3 - 4 gold medals.

According to the Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet, AYG is a big playground of the continent. This is an opportunity for each athlete to show themselves and compete for the best results. Vietnam Sports expects the young force to have many achievements in the coming years, being the key faces in major arenas such as: ASIAD 2026, Olympics 2028. Therefore, athletes should compete with the spirit and determination to achieve the highest results.

Mr. Dao Duc Kien, Head of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation at AYG 2025, said: “The Games is a major tournament in the region, gathering the best young athletes from many strong countries such as China, Japan, Korea, etc. After overcoming many difficulties, with the greatest effort, we have selected the best young athletes to compete at this Games. We must identify this as a youth tournament, an opportunity for them to compete and gain more experience for the future. Over the past time, Vietnamese sports have continuously made every effort with the desire to build a team of potential young athletes. And after a period of active preparation, the Vietnamese Sports Delegation is determined to strive for the best results.”

Waiting for talents to shine

12 years ago in Nanjing, Vietnamese sports competed very successfully when winning 5 gold medals thanks to Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (3 gold medals, swimming), Ly Hoang Nam (1 gold medal, tennis) and Nguyen Thi Truc Mai (1 gold medal, athletics). Two of the three athletes who won "gold" in 2013, Anh Vien and Hoang Nam, later became symbols of success in their sport. Anh Vien is not only the number 1 swimmer of Vietnamese swimming but also a record holder at the SEA Games and won many medals at Asian and ASIAD tournaments. Hoang Nam also became the number 1 tennis player in Vietnam and Southeast Asia for many consecutive years, he won the SEA Games gold medal and was champion of regional and continental Tours.

It can be said that AYG 2013 is the launching pad for Anh Vien and Hoang Nam to shine, from there making great strides in their professional development to become leading athletes, thereby bringing glory to Vietnamese sports.

This year, Vietnamese sports are looking forward to the shine of talented young athletes such as: Tran Mai Anh, Le Phan Tuan Kiet, Bui Mai Phuong (Taekwondo), Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen (badminton), Hoang Le Quynh Nhu (athletics), Y Lien, Dao Thi Yen (weightlifting), Nguyen Khang Ha My, Bui Dam Mai Chi (bicycling), Dinh Thi Ru Na, Nguyen Thi Hong Yen (Boxing)... AYG 2025 is expected to be a launching pad for these talents to shine and in the future, they can be successful like Anh Vien or Hoang Nam.

In recent years, Vietnamese sports have undergone a strong transformation with a strategy of rejuvenating its forces. National training centers in key localities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Can Tho all focus on discovering, training and investing in the next generation of athletes. Participating in AYG 2025 therefore has a special meaning, both as a valuable opportunity for competition and as a practical "test" for the youth training process. Competition results at AYG 2025 are also considered the standard for competing for a place at the World Youth Olympics to take place in 2026 in Senegal. So it can be said that AYG 2025 is not only a tournament, it is also a measure of the strategic vision of Vietnamese sports in investing in future generations.

Whatever the outcome, what matters is the lessons, maturity and aspirations that the young athletes bring back. With the spirit of “learning to improve, competing to grow”, young Vietnamese talents are expected to make their mark on the continental stage. And who knows, from this congress, new stars of Vietnamese sports will begin their journey to reach out to the continent and the world, continuing the flame of victory that their seniors have lit.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/be-phong-cho-cac-tai-nang-tre-177218.html