Active integration
The 2025 Asian Winter Games will take place from February 7 to 14 in Harbin (China), where the temperature is currently harsh (-21 degrees Celsius). The Vietnamese delegation has 3 members participating in the 2025 Asian Winter Games: athlete Duong Truong Lap, coach Nguyen Vo Huu Vinh and head of delegation Ngo Quang Vinh. Duong Truong Lap will compete in speed skating with 3 distances of 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m. "In the first time participating in the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Japan, Vietnam sent 6 athletes. This time we will participate with a smaller number due to age regulations. It is a great effort in the context that winter sports do not have the conditions to develop strongly in Vietnam. However, in the effort to integrate internationally, we see the opportunity to build and develop these sports," Mr. Ngo Quang Vinh shared. 
Athlete Duong Truong Lap trains in Harbin (China)
PHOTO: NVCC
Mr. Mai Ba Hung, Head of the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 2017 Winter Asian Games in Sapporo (Japan), recalled that in the first time participating, Vietnam encountered many difficulties such as skiers having to go to Mui Ne (Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan) to practice...sand skiing, and going to the road to practice roller skating to supplement. "In addition, before the 2017 Winter Asian Games, Vietnamese athletes were lucky to have a training trip in Korea. Although they could not compete with their opponents for high achievements, Vietnamese athletes showed their strong will to compete, no one gave up. I still remember the impressive image of athlete Nguyen Duc Manh being awaited and encouraged by fans when he finished the 10,000 m cross-country skiing event in cold weather of -20 degrees Celsius, while some athletes had to give up", said Mr. Mai Ba Hung.
Development potential
Mr. Mai Ba Hung said that the Vietnam Skating Federation was established in 2018, and by 2021, the name change to the Vietnam Skating and Roller Federation is a necessary step to develop the movement of two related and complementary sports. With skating, especially figure skating, Vietnam has athletes from other sports switching over, receiving international training from their families. With speed skating, there are a number of roller skaters switching over, integrating quickly and developing well. Athlete Duong Truong Lap is also a typical case of switching from roller to speed skating and affirming his talent.
"The advantage of ice skating is that it is played indoors. In Vietnam, there are also ice skating rinks in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. These ice skating rinks are private, mainly for service purposes, and do not meet international standards, but Vietnamese athletes also take advantage of them to practice. If we have a standard ice skating rink, it will be an opportunity to develop not only ice skating but also indoor winter sports such as hockey , curling, etc.," said Mr. Mai Ba Hung. Vietnam also needs to be proactive in socialization and international cooperation to develop new sports or winter sports like what Ho Chi Minh City is doing with Teqball when cooperating with the World Teqball Federation and receiving active support in terms of facilities. Or previously, to have a force to participate in the 2017 Winter Asian Games, Vietnam received active support from Korea.
Another opportunity for Vietnam to develop winter sports is the source of Vietnamese athletes. Currently, there are many talented Vietnamese athletes pursuing winter sports, ready to represent Vietnam in international competitions. Last year, the leaders of the Department of Sports and Physical Training welcomed and worked with representatives of the Vietnamese Association in France and Italy, including cooperation in developing winter sports, creating conditions for overseas talents to contribute to Vietnamese sports in the Winter Olympics and Asian Games as well as investing in developing these sports in Vietnam.
The 2025 Asian Winter Games will be the 9th Winter Sports Games in Asia. This year's Games will feature 11 sports with 64 events, attracting the participation of 1,275 athletes from 34 countries and territories. Southeast Asian countries participating in the 2025 Asian Winter Games include Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/viet-nam-lam-duoc-gi-tai-a-van-hoi-mua-dong-18525020421575558.htm
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