In his tenth grade year, Thai Van Lam (born in 1988, from Ia Hrung commune) began training at a traditional martial arts club in Bien Ho commune. His passion grew, and the young man nurtured the dream of becoming a professional athlete.
With outstanding talent and a passionate training spirit, in 2005, he was selected for the Provincial Boxing Team. From 2008 to 2010, boxer Van Lam achieved many successes in national tournaments and was recognized as a boxing champion.
The most memorable moment in Thai Van Lam's boxing career was at the 2009 National Strong Clubs Boxing Cup, where he overcame many strong opponents to win the silver medal, including a victory against Truong Dinh Hoang ( Dak Lak province) - a top boxer in Vietnam. At the 2010 National Sports Games held in Dak Lak province, he became the first boxer from the former Gia Lai province to win a silver medal at the National Sports Games.
Following his outstanding achievements, Thai Van Lam was directly admitted to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports . However, due to difficult family circumstances, he had to put his dream of studying on hold to embark on a journey to earn a living.
“At that time, I was at the peak of my form, so it’s a pity I couldn’t continue my studies and professional development in a structured training environment. However, boxing helped me become more resilient, confident, and responsible towards the community,” Lam recalled.
After retiring from boxing in 2011, Mr. Lam worked various jobs to support his family, but his love for boxing never faded. He sought out gyms in Pleiku to collaborate in teaching boxing, while also harboring the desire to establish a professional training center. In 2024, Dragon Boxing Club was founded, becoming a training ground for those who love this martial art.
According to Mr. Lam, Dragon Boxing Club currently has 40 students of various ages who regularly train. Notably, he also accepts several young children with psychological and behavioral difficulties such as hyperactivity, autism, or motor disorders like involuntary jerking of the arms and legs or neck shaking. These children are entrusted to the club by their families for training and to improve their physical and mental health.
Coach Thai Van Lam developed a personalized training plan for each group, combining physical training, basic boxing techniques, and age-appropriate exercises to help students gradually adapt to the training environment. After each session, students also participate in group games to create a fun atmosphere, reduce stress, and increase camaraderie. As a result, many students have shown positive changes, becoming more confident and sociable.
Cao Tien (born in 2016, Pleiku ward) shared: “I’ve been training at Dragon Boxing Club for almost a year now. Coach Lam has been very dedicated in guiding me and improving my physical fitness, so my health has improved a lot. I will try my best to train well so that I can compete as well as him in the future.”
Since 2024, Coach Thai Van Lam has also maintained free boxing classes at Dai Doan Ket Square (Pleiku Ward) to spread the sports training movement in the community.
He also participates in training at the boxing club at Chi Lang High School (Hoi Phu Ward) and Sao Viet Primary, Secondary, and High School (Pleiku Ward). Organizations and groups also invite him to share his experience on preventing school violence and self-defense skills, contributing to raising awareness of physical fitness and fostering a positive lifestyle for everyone.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/gieo-dam-me-boxing-o-pho-nui-post589930.html
![[Photo] "Hanoi Lotus Festival" honors the lotus flower that has been associated with Vietnam for thousands of years.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/27/1782516943048_sen-ha-noi-2026-minh-duy-1-jpg.webp)
