Lý Minh Triết (left) and Lý Minh Tân compete at the WPC Series - Asia Pacific 2024 Race to Carmelina in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province. — Photos courtesy of Triết

HCM CITY — Following their historic silver medal win in table tennis at the 18th SEA Games and their efforts in promoting tennis in HCM City, brothers Lý Minh Triết and Lý Minh Tân have set their sights on capturing the Asian gold medal in pickleball to introduce and popularise this emerging sport in Việt Nam.

With their strong attacking style and adept defensive skills, Triết and Tân clinched the gold medal in the over 50 age category at the WPC Series - Asia Pacific 2024 Race to Carmelina event, held earlier this month at the Carmelina Resort in the southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu. They emerged victorious after a tough final match against a formidable pair from Singapore.

Their recent achievement has fuelled their ambition to reach new heights at the inaugural Asian Open Championship, organised by the Pickleball and Friends Việt Nam Club. The championship will be held from April 30 to May 4 at the Kỳ Hòa 2 Club in HCM City, offering a substantial prize pool of up to US$30,000.

Expressing their aspirations, the Lý brothers aim to bring home the gold medal and further promote pickleball, a sport that aligns well with the qualities of Vietnamese people and provides sports enthusiasts with another choice.

During the 1990s, the Lý brothers excelled as professional table tennis players, representing both the People's Public Security team and the Vietnamese national team. Triết, born in 1972, secured two national gold medals in the men's singles category in 1995 and 1996, while Tân, born in 1974, obtained the national men's doubles gold medal in 1996 and the men's singles bronze medal in 1995. The pinnacle of their table tennis careers came when they won the historic silver medal for the men's team at the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai in 1995.

After retiring in the early 2000s, Triết and Tân continued to make their mark by promoting tennis practice and competition. Leveraging their ingenuity and athletic abilities, they achieved success in various tournaments, including the Becamex and Phú Mỹ Hưng tournaments.

Having played tennis for a considerable period, both brothers suffered knee injuries and contemplated quitting the sport. However, their path took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon pickleball, a newly introduced sport in Việt Nam. They began playing with their friends and quickly developed a passion for the game, which combines elements of table tennis and tennis, played on a court the size of a badminton court.

"When I discovered this sport, I realised it was highly suitable for Vietnamese people. Its dynamic ball movements demand quick reflexes, skill, perseverance and patience to secure victory," Triết said.

Harnessing their inherent creativity and agility, the Lý brothers swiftly established themselves as a formidable duo in Vietnamese pickleball after just a few months of practice. Their breakthrough moment arrived when they emerged victorious in the open championship held in Bình Dương Province in November 2023.

Lý Minh Tân seen in a recent event.

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport played by either two players (singles) or four players (doubles). Participants wield paddles to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net. The objective is to continue the rally until one side fails to return the ball or violates a rule.

Originating in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, pickleball has experienced tremendous growth. It was heralded as the fastest-growing sport in the US in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with an estimated 4.8 million players by 2023.

Despite being only recently introduced in Việt Nam, pickleball has witnessed significant expansion, with approximately 25 pickleball clubs now established across the country. VNS