Shooting 

Trịnh Thu Vinh after her competition in the women's 25m pistol event during the Paris Olympics in August. VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has set a target of winning a gold medal at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD) and winning a medal at the 34th Olympic Games.

The continental ASIAD will be held in Japan in 2026, while the Olympics will take place in the US in 2028. It will be years before the competitions, but Vietnamese sport managers and players have already made big plans to get results.

After the recent national championships, shooters have begun their training at the National Sports and Training Centre No. 1 in Hà Nội. They will have to not only ensure they are in top form, but also upgrade their level, with an eye towards big international competitions.

Among the competitors, those with the potential to earn a medal will receive strong support at international training camps and tournaments. Vietnamese marksmen are known to be good at pistol events, after the legendary Hoàng Xuân Vinh won Olympic gold at the Rio Games in 2016.

"After the national tournament I have been training hard to focus on international events in the months to come," said 19th Asian Games champion Phạm Quang Huy.

Phạm Quang Huy is expected to defend his ASIAD title and qualify for the next Olympics. — VNA/VNS Photo

Huy, an impressive shooter who earned five golds at the national championships, is expected to defend his title in Japan and follow his predecessor Vinh to enter the top three in the US.

In the next few days, the Sports Authority of Việt Nam (SAV) will have a meeting with South Korean shooting expert Park Chung-gun to sign a new deal.

Park had worked in Việt Nam for more than decade until his contract ended on August 31. Under his reign, Vietnamese athletes won one gold, one silver, one fourth place and one seventh place at the Olympics, as well as one gold from ASIAD and many other titles at Asian championships, the SEA Games and regional championships. 

In an email sent to Park, SAV set a target in his new term of three golds at the 33th SEA Games in 2025, two golds at the 20th ASIAD and two Los Angeles Olympic slots, with one gold medal.

"We've had two empty-handed Olympics. The head coach and his assistants as well as local trainers must sit down and analyse the problem and find out solutions," said SAV Director Đặng Hà Việt.

On his side, Park said no coach in the world could ensure an Olympic gold for Việt Nam in 2028. To take the top podium is extremely difficult, and it requires huge investment and determination over a long period. 

"I think three SEA Games gold medals are possible, two ASIAD golds are difficult but still within reach, but winning Olympic gold is not simple. It takes a lot of time, effort and investment of resources," said Park.

"Even when everyone, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, SAV, the federation and national teams all work together, there is no guarantee that the goal can be achieved.

"Vietnamese shooters showed much potential with one fourth place and one seventh place in Paris. But I don't think anyone in the world can guarantee an Olympic gold. 

"We will try our best but we can't guarantee a gold."

Trịnh Thu Vinh was the most successful Vietnamese shooter at the Paris Olympics, twice earning a place in the top 10. Earlier, she took the Asian gold medal in 2022 and fifth place at the world championship in 2023.

According to Park, the 24-year-old sharpshooter is in her prime for a sport that requires high concentration and confidence. If she receives enough support, she can make it to the top.

Other medal favourites include Huy, Lại Công Minh and Phan Công Minh on the men's side and Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền and Phí Thanh Thảo on the women's. VNS