Opening up new avenues for the development of water sports.

For the first time, Can Tho sports delegation will participate in the 2026 National Age Group Diving Championships, held in Dong Thap from May 27th to 30th. This is a positive sign in the process of training and opening up opportunities for professional development for young athletes of the city.

Can Tho athletes are actively training and getting ready for the 2026 National Age Group Diving Championships.

The Can Tho team participated in the competition with coach Nguyen Thanh Long and two athletes, Nguyen Minh Luan and Nguyen Tri Phong. The two athletes competed in the double finswimming event in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m distances for the 16-18 age group.

Currently, Can Tho has not established a diving team, but the coaching staff assesses that this sport shares many similarities with swimming in terms of physical fitness, technique in the water, and potential for development. This is considered an advantage that helps swimmers adapt to diving faster and shorten the initial adaptation period. Therefore, the Can Tho team participating in the 2026 National Age Group Diving Championships will be selected from the city's swimmers.

However, diving remains a highly demanding sport. Athletes must become proficient in using fins, maintaining high speed underwater, and managing their energy levels effectively throughout the competition. Wearing fins for extended periods can also lead to leg fatigue, difficulty moving, and a longer recovery time to find the right feel in the water.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Long shared: "When they first switched to diving, the athletes faced difficulties because the technique was different from swimming, especially the feel of the water when using fins and how to maintain a stable speed. However, the athletes had a good learning spirit and made clear progress with each training session."

To prepare for the tournament, in addition to specialized underwater training, the coaching staff also intensified physical exercises such as running, weightlifting, and stretching to improve leg muscle strength and speed maintenance.

Currently, the Can Tho Swimming team has 1 national team athlete, 6 junior team athletes, and 29 talented athletes. Among them, 1 national team athlete and 2 junior athletes are being transferred to try their hand at diving. Despite limited equipment and a short training period, the athletes have initially shown a good ability to adapt to the new professional requirements.

The Can Tho Diving team's goal at the competition, in addition to competing for achievements, is to gain experience and assess the potential for athlete development. Through this competition, the city's sports sector will have more basis to build a suitable investment plan for the development of the diving sport.

The participation of Can Tho athletes in the 2026 National Age Group Diving Championships raises expectations for the development of a new force for the city in this sport in the coming years.

Text and photos: HONG NHUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/mo-huong-phat-trien-the-thao-duoi-nuoc-a205157.html