This is not only an opportunity to review the team's strength and assess the players' performance, but also a basis for the coaching staff to aim for two gold medals at the Games, while simultaneously preparing long-term for the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic Games.
A core force with great potential.
The 2025 National Gymnastics Championships, held at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace ( Hanoi ) from September 15th to 20th, showcased a significant transformation in the athlete pool. Experts consider this to be the most promising and deep generation of athletes in many years.
National gymnastics team members such as Nguyen Van Khanh Phong, Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu… continue to maintain consistent performance in their strongest events. Young athletes from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong are gradually establishing their positions, creating a promising next generation. Meanwhile, veteran athlete Dinh Phuong Thanh remains a key figure, contributing to achievements while also mentoring the younger generation.
Furthermore, the team's international achievements in 2025 continue to strengthen confidence: Khanh Phong won a silver medal in the rings at the Challenge Cup; Xuan Thien won a gold medal at the Challenge Cup and a bronze medal in the pommel horse at the Asian Championships; and Quynh Nhu won a silver medal in the women's vault at the Asian Championships, showing positive signs in an event that has lacked highlights for many years.
At the 2025 National Gymnastics Championships, Dinh Phuong Thanh impressed by winning gold medals in the horizontal bar and parallel bars, continuing to be a key professional asset for the national team. Coach Truong Minh Sang said: “The national championships accurately reflect the progress of each athlete. The coaching staff will base their plans on each athlete's strengths to prepare for the SEA Games, ASIAD, and the Olympics.”
Sports expert Nguyen Hong Minh commented: "Vietnamese gymnastics currently has the highest quality group of male athletes in the last 5-7 years. However, to compete for medals at the ASIAD or the Olympics, key athletes need intensive investment, both in terms of the difficulty of their movements and their international competition skills."
Carefully prepare and aim for big goals.
At the 33rd SEA Games, the Department of Physical Education and Sports (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) set a target for Vietnamese gymnastics to win at least two gold medals – a goal considered appropriate given the promising young athletes and their consistent performance. Notably, the SEA Games 33 organizing committee removed the all-around and team events – traditionally strong points for Vietnam. Instead, the organizing committee only retained individual events; each athlete could register for a maximum of three events and reach the finals in a maximum of two. This forced the team to adjust its training strategy.
According to the coaching staff, the Vietnamese gymnastics team will participate in all men's and women's events at the 33rd SEA Games. This year, although the team will not be training abroad, they are guaranteed full equipment and training conditions. Coach Truong Minh Sang said: “Each athlete will participate in 3-4 international competitions to hone their mental fortitude and test their skills. We adjust the pace of competition in each stage to maintain physical fitness and technical stability...”
The men's team consists of four athletes: Nguyen Van Khanh Phong, Dinh Phuong Thanh, Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien, and Trinh Hai Khang. Streamlining the team allows the athletes to focus on increasing the difficulty of the event and optimizing their performance. Athlete Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien shared: “SEA Games 33 will have fierce competition from Malaysia and the Philippines, but we aim to defend our gold medal in the pommel horse event. The whole team is ready.”
In the women's category, athlete Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu is expected to become a new bright spot. With her performance at the Asian Championships, she is considered a strong contender for the gold medal – something that Vietnamese women's gymnastics has been waiting for for many years.
Alongside preparations for the 33rd SEA Games, the team is also aiming for the 2025 World Championships in Indonesia – one of the important tournaments to assess capabilities and accumulate points for the cycle leading up to the 2028 Olympics. In addition, the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD 20) is also a major goal, especially after Khanh Phong's historic silver medal at the 19th Asian Games.
According to the Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Vietnamese gymnastics team currently has 10 core athletes. The final list for the SEA Games 33 will be finalized when the athletes reach peak performance and are free from injuries.
With their squad at its peak, and thorough preparation in terms of technique, physical fitness, and mentality, the Vietnamese gymnastics team is expected to achieve its target of two gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand at the end of the year, while also making a significant leap forward on the journey towards the 20th Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics. This is considered a crucial time for Vietnamese gymnastics to assert its position in the region and reach out to larger arenas.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/the-duc-dung-cu-viet-nam-san-ready-for-the-target-at-sea-games-33-723461.html
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