The underlying reason why Vietnamese sports struggle at ASIAD

In the SEA Games arena (most recently in 2022 and 2023), Vietnam has always dominated with the number of medals far exceeding other countries. However, coming to ASIAD 19, Vietnamese sports have revealed many limitations. Although completing the pre-set target (winning from 2 to 5 gold medals), when compared to other countries in the Southeast Asian region, Vietnam is very modest. This comes from many reasons.

LITTLE MONEY…

High-performance sports is the process of selecting talented children and systematically training them for many years. This process is divided into many stages and must be strictly managed, bringing young talents to become continental or world-class athletes, achieving high results, bringing glory to the Fatherland. To carry out this process, first of all, there must be a management system for the entire training system that is extremely scientific and professional.

Vietnamese fencing is too small at ASIAD

Nguyên nhân sâu xa khiến thể thao Việt Nam chật vật ở ASIAD - Ảnh 1. — Vietnamese weightlifters empty-handed at ASIAD 19

To do the above, we need really abundant financial resources. Funds for selecting and training athletes for many years. The application of science and technology is also a very important factor to improve performance. Funds will be used to purchase equipment, training and competition tools. Funds are also used to organize and participate in events. From there, we will learn, improve our skills, exchange in terms of coach training, use experts and brains from around the world ... However, funding is always a very difficult problem in improving the level of sports in Vietnam.

BUT USING MONEY IS NOT RIGHT

Financial problems are always difficult to solve, but the key problem lies in how to use funds. Vietnamese sports are chasing the SEA Games (always sending 700 - 1,000 people, participating in 35 - 40 events) without prioritizing the ASIAD or the Olympics. The strategy of Vietnamese sports is to always be in the top 3 of the SEA Games, then choose a few events with the potential to achieve results towards the continent and the Olympics. The mindset has not changed, when thinking that it is easy to win in Southeast Asia so just do it, but to expand to the continent and the world is too difficult. Meanwhile, the budget is not enough to invest in both playgrounds. It is not about having the ability, but the problem here is whether to invest in key or spread out. I would like to emphasize that I am only talking about high-performance sports, not the entire sports system. Key investment is choosing a few key events to invest heavily. But if we spread out, that is, develop many sports to follow the SEA Games, it will lead to the inability to invest heavily in important sports, for some elite athletes. Of course, when Vietnamese athletes compete in continental competitions, their level will be lower.

Pham Quang Huy's gold medal at ASIAD 19 is more precious than diamonds

In addition, the gradual "degradation" of the management apparatus is also a factor affecting the development of high-performance sports. The change from the Sports Committee to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training under the Ministry and down to the Department of Sports and Physical Training has weakened the management role, leading to the direction and implementation of the national strategic guidelines on high-performance sports not being carried out closely.

For many years, the sports industry has built a high-performance sports management system and made progress, creating a mark in the development process. But now, coupled with objective difficulties when other countries have paid special attention to sports development, especially high-performance sports. So, the gap is getting bigger and Vietnamese athletes will not be able to keep up. The reason why the Vietnamese sports delegation ranked 21st at ASIAD and only 6th in Southeast Asia is from internal causes. This is a problem that needs to be solved, reviewed in terms of strategy and implementation, including high-performance sports management, including direction, theory and organizational structure. If this continues, Vietnamese sports will continue to struggle in the ASIAD arena, not to mention the Olympics.

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