Behind Ly Hoang Nam's tennis farewell

(NLDO) - Fans were surprised and regretful when they received the news that Ly Hoang Nam officially switched to pickleball.

In mid-February 2025, when talking to us about the information that the Department of Sports and Physical Training still wanted Hoang Nam to compete for the Vietnamese team at the 2025 SEA Games taking place in December in Thailand, Hoang Nam said that there was no official information yet, but if there was, Nam would consider this offer.

A month later, Hoang Nam officially announced: After careful consideration, I have decided to temporarily stop playing professional tennis to focus on pickleball.

Fans were surprised and regretful when receiving the news that Ly Hoang Nam officially switched to pickleball.

Just like tennis, in this new sport of pickleball, Hoang Nam has set a very clear goal for himself: initially focusing on domestic tournaments, then Hoang Nam will compete in Asian and European countries. Hoang Nam's goal is to enter the Top 100 pickleball players in the world .

Returning to the story before the 2023 SEA Games, Hoang Nam announced his retirement from the Vietnamese tennis team due to disagreements with the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF). After that, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training worked with Hoang Nam's management unit, Hai Dang Tay Ninh Tennis Club, as well as with Hoang Nam, from which Hoang Nam agreed to compete at the 2023 SEA Games.

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Unfortunately, Nam got sick and had a high fever before the final match. Otherwise, Nam could have made a hat-trick, winning the SEA Games men's singles championship three times in a row, instead of only winning two gold medals at the 2019 and 2022 SEA Games (postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and a silver medal in 2023.

Hoang Nam once told the media: "I won two consecutive gold medals at the 30th and 31st SEA Games. Both times I only received bonuses according to state standards, and there was no bonus from VTF. As everyone knows, the cost of a top tennis player is very expensive. What I need from VTF is not money, but attention and appreciation for my contributions in particular and Hai Dang Group, my employer, in general."

Mr. Thai Truong Giang, who invested in Hoang Nam, also said: "Each year, just investing in Hoang Nam, including professional coaches, fitness coaches, travel expenses, competition, food, and accommodation in the country and abroad, costs more than 5 billion VND. Hoang Nam proposed that VTF support additional funding during the preparation period for the 32nd SEA Games, which is 150 million VND (3 months of preparation) and a bonus of 200 million VND if he wins a gold medal, but it was not accepted."

Recalling the past to better understand why Hoang Nam said "there are many reasons why Nam needs to consider returning to compete for the Vietnam team at the 2025 SEA Games if there is an official invitation".

Hoang Nam's goal is to enter the Top 100 pickleball players in the world.

However, before the invitation arrived, Hoang Nam announced that he would switch to pickleball. If he accepts the invitation to compete in tennis at the 2025 SEA Games, Hoang Nam will need time to prepare and practice to achieve his best form at the time of the SEA Games.

If they really want to invite Hoang Nam, the Department of Sports and Physical Training and VTF need to speak up soon to have enough time to prepare. In particular, how will VTF and the Department of Sports and Physical Training resolve the financial issue in Hoang Nam's case?

There were too many unanswered questions and could not wait, so Hoang Nam had other directions.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/phia-sau-cuoc-chia-tay-quan-vot-cua-ly-hoang-nam-196250324154102578.htm