Vietnam has successfully established and launched its first triathlon federation after many years of effort.

Based on the approval granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 10, the Vietnam Triathlon Federation held its inaugural congress on Tuesday for the 2024-29 term, during which leadership elections were conducted.

Le Hong Minh, general director of Vietnamese tech unicorn VNG, was elected as the president of the federation. 

Nguyen Thu Phuong, an officer at the Department of Physical Training and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, was appointed as the general secretary. 

The federation also elected four vice-presidents and one standing member.

Tuesday’s congress outlined the objectives for Vietnamese triathlon during the 2024-29 period. 

For the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2025, the federation aims to secure gold medals in both the men’s and women’s duathlon events, which combine running and cycling.

Further goals include qualifying athletes for the Youth Olympics in 2036 and achieving a top-six finish at the Asian Games in the same year.

Over the past decade, triathlons have gained substantial popularity in Vietnam, with robust growth in participant numbers. 

Almost every major province and city now hosts triathlon groups, some boasting over 10,000 members. 

Additionally, Vietnam has been a host for major international triathlon events, such as the Ironman 70.3 Vietnam in Da Nang City, organized since 2015.

Though relatively new to the competitive scene, the Vietnamese triathlon team has quickly made its mark. 

Since its debut at the SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019, the team has consistently delivered commendable performances in subsequent games in 2022 and 2023, securing multiple medals, including two consecutive gold medals won by Pham Tien San from Bac Giang Province in the men’s duathlon.

The establishment of the Vietnam Triathlon Federation and its affiliation with the World Triathlon, the international authority for triathlon and related sports, are expected to offer numerous opportunities for Vietnamese athletes to receive appropriate training, enhance their skills, and participate in global competitions.

It is a significant step toward elevating triathlon to become a key sport in Vietnam, with long-term aspirations to compete at higher levels such as the Asian Games and the Olympics.

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