Go out to sea to see where you are

VHO - After more than half a month of competing at the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG 2025) held in Bahrain, the Vietnamese Sports Delegation has ended its journey with 19 medals, including 1 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze medals. This achievement not only reflects the current strength, but also opens up hope for the future of Vietnamese youth sports.

The success of the Vietnamese sports delegation at AYG 2025 is a sign of a new cycle.

Under the leadership of Head of Delegation Dao Duc Kien, Deputy Head of High Performance Sports Department (Vietnam Sports Administration), 47 young Vietnamese athletes competed in 11/29 sports and sub-sports, with a spirit of determination, confidence and professionalism.

Fighting spirit never give up

The only gold medal won by the Vietnamese delegation was won by weightlifter Nguyen Thanh Duy in the men’s 65kg weightlifting category. According to the head of the delegation, Dao Duc Kien, the journey to this gold medal was “a battle of will and tactics”.

In the snatch competition, Thanh Duy only succeeded at 120 kg and failed in the following two attempts, temporarily ranking fourth. However, moving to the clean and jerk competition, the coaching staff made a bold decision ("accusing" the starting weight of 152 kg) higher than the opponents in the same weight class. After one failure, Thanh Duy continued to raise the weight to 153 kg, then 156 kg in the last round and succeeded spectacularly. Meanwhile, the North Korean weightlifter stopped at 150 kg, while his Chinese opponent Wang Bohang failed at 157 kg, the result helping Vietnam win the prestigious gold medal.

According to experts, the weight of 156 kg is not too much for Thanh Duy because when practicing, Duy has approached 157 kg. However, from the training floor to success on the competition floor is a long story, if the athlete is not steadfast and the coaching staff does not make wise decisions.

It is worth noting that in this case, Duy executed exactly the strategy set out by the coaching staff. It was his will, determination and unyielding spirit that helped this young athlete break through at the decisive moment. Head of the delegation Dao Duc Kien emphasized: "This gold medal is not only convincing in terms of expertise, but also demonstrates the courage and qualities required of a top athlete who dares to challenge his own limits."

Besides that precious gold medal, many other silver and bronze medals of the Vietnamese delegation also left a strong impression. The gap between Vietnamese athletes and the leading group is very close. For example, the two silver medals in golf are only one stroke behind the gold medal of the Chinese athlete; the silver medal of weightlifter Y Yen is only 1 kg behind the gold medal of the North Korean athlete, or wrestler Thao Thom lost to her Indian opponent in the last seconds. These are all sports in the competition system of the Asian Games and Olympics, showing that Vietnamese youth sports have the basis to rise to the top group if invested in the right direction.

Valuable lessons from the continental sports "ocean"

According to Mr. Dao Duc Kien, AYG 2025 is an “extremely valuable opportunity” for young Vietnamese athletes. They will not only compete with the strongest opponents in Asia but also experience the scale of organization, pressure and professional standards equivalent to the Asian Games. This is an important stepping stone to prepare for further goals at the regional and world levels.

Mr. Kien analyzed: “We can compete fairly in some light weight classes and women's events. That is also the investment direction that needs to be prioritized, in order to “attack” Vietnam's strong sports in the future.” Reality shows that in sports such as weightlifting, wrestling, golf, archery... many young Vietnamese athletes have approached the top group of the continent. The important thing is that they need to compete more often to accumulate courage, competitive instinct and tactical improvisation ability.

Vietnamese youth sports do not lack talent, but they lack international training environments and specialized conditions. Participating in congresses like AYG is the first step, but if continuous investment is not maintained, these talents can easily "lose their rhythm". Therefore, after the congress, the sports delegation will have a summary report, draw lessons and propose to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Physical Training and Sports to continue to pay attention and invest more strongly in the youth sector, especially in Olympic and Asian Games, arenas that require long-term vision and scientific strategy.

Head of the delegation Dao Duc Kien also suggested: “Investment in youth sports needs to be linked to investment in modern facilities, specialized equipment and training systems updated to international standards. At the same time, we must expand opportunities for international competitions, so that children can not only practice but also have real-life exposure, which is the sustainable path to get closer to the Olympic arena.”

The 2025 Asian Youth Games concluded, leaving many valuable lessons for Vietnamese sports. From a gold medal by Nguyen Thanh Duy to a series of close silver medals, the most valuable thing is the competitive spirit and the will to overcome oneself, the core qualities of a sport that is gradually maturing.

The results in Bahrain show that today’s young generation of athletes are more aware of their mission of competing not only to win, but also to affirm Vietnam’s position on the continental sports map. They are gradually demonstrating the mettle and aspiration of a “small but influential” sports sector, ready to face and learn from the great powers.

The most important thing after each congress is not only the number of medals, but also the true capacity of the next generation, those who will take on the task at the 33rd SEA Games, the 2026 Asian Games and further, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Going out to sea to see where we are, that message is not only true for young athletes, but also for the development strategy of Vietnamese sports: only when we dare to step out of our comfort zone, collide and learn, will we know what we need to change to go further.

The success of the Vietnamese youth sports delegation at AYG 2025 is not only the result of a congress, but also a sign of a new cycle, where Vietnamese sports are transforming from a movement to a professional one, from competing for honor to competing for a sustainable development strategy. And it is the persistent efforts and young examples like Nguyen Thanh Duy that will be the driving force for Vietnamese sports to continue to nurture the aspiration to reach the continental level, towards the Olympics in the near future.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/ra-bien-lon-de-thay-minh-dang-o-dau-178759.html