Nearly 400 athletes from 62 schools participate in the 2025 Open Student Pickleball Tournament

VHO - Nearly 400 athletes from 62 schools participated in the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Open Pickleball Tournament for Students, attracting 643 matches, raising the level of school sports.

Organizing Committee representatives, new guests, and athletes at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Open Student Pickleball Tournament

Held for the first time, the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Open Pickleball Tournament for Students in 2025, organized by Hoa Sen University (HSU) in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Tennis - Pickleball Federation, attracted nearly 400 athletes from 62 high schools, colleges and universities.

With a large number of athletes, the Tournament had 643 matches in 5 categories, becoming the largest school Pickleball event ever held in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year's tournament takes place over two days, November 15-16, 2025, at the Vietnam Pickleball Playground, with 5 competition events: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles, according to the competition rules issued by the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Department.

In his opening speech, MSc. Doan Ngoc Duy – Vice Principal of HSU emphasized that the tournament is a large-scale school sports event, and at the same time affirms HSU's position as a typical school sports center in Ho Chi Minh City. He hopes that Pickleball – a modern and flexible sport will inspire students to practice, improve their health and the spirit of fair play.

The tournament had the participation of nearly 400 athletes from 62 schools.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien Thanh - Director of Sports Economics Program, Director of HSU Sports Center, Head of Organizing Committee, Pickleball not only trains physical strength but also helps students develop reflexes, tactics and team spirit.

This year's tournament was organized professionally, creating a healthy playground, helping young people confidently express their abilities and connect with the community.

The organizers said that after only two weeks of opening registration, they have received a record number of athletes, demonstrating the attraction of Pickleball and HSU’s pioneering role in developing the school sports movement. This is also an opportunity for athletes to experience international-standard competitions, rub shoulders and learn from each other in a vibrant atmosphere.

In particular, the cooperation of 13 businesses with the Ho Chi Minh City Tennis - Pickleball Federation has contributed to raising the level of the tournament, bringing quality products and total prize value of up to 150 million VND for athletes.

The event is a highlight of the school sports movement in Ho Chi Minh City and an activity to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 20, spreading the message of comprehensive education combining physical fitness, skills and team spirit.

Young people compete in Pickleball

With its large scale and strong influence right from the first time it was organized, the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Open Pickleball Tournament for Students in 2025 is expected to become an annual playground, while consolidating HSU's position as a dynamic and pioneering school sports center.

HSU is the first university in Vietnam to include Pickleball in its physical education program from 2024, and continuously expand training subjects such as archery, shooting, baseball, kickboxing, Muay Thai, etc. In August 2025, HSU became a member of the Asian University Pickleball Association (APUN), strengthening the quality of training according to international standards.

Currently, HSU is also the first and only school in Vietnam to implement the Sports Economics major, training a team of human resources to manage and organize professional sports activities, meeting the integration needs in the rapidly developing sports industry.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/gan-400-vdv-den-tu-62-truong-tham-gia-gia-giai-pickleball-hoc-sinh-sinh-vien-mo-rong-2025-181668.html