Vietnam Makes Mark in Asian Youth Pickleball Development

The 2026 Asia Junior Pickleball Championship marked a significant presence for Vietnam, with experts contributing to the development of young Asian players and the Vietnamese junior team achieving overall victory. The event, held at Mahidol University Salaya in Thailand, attracted over 1,000 young athletes from 14 countries and territories. Beyond the competitions, the championship placed strong emphasis on training, sports science, and injury prevention. This included a series of specialized training programs conducted by Vietnam's Evo Vietnam company. The sessions were led by Mr. Dang Thanh Hai, Chairman of Evo Vietnam, and Mr. Maik Berger, CEO of Evo Vietnam, a sports science expert from Germany with extensive experience in athlete conditioning, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. Vietnamese experts implemented three training programs aimed at building a long-term development foundation for young athletes. The first program focused on sports conditioning science, injury prevention, and recovery for athletes aged 6 to 18, as well as sports science students from Mahidol University. The content emphasized scientific training methods, reducing injury risks, and improving competitive performance. A "Pickleball Training Camp" gathered 36 young athletes from various nations for practical training and professional exchange, exposing them to modern conditioning methods to boost their athletic capabilities. Additionally, a specialized workshop for experts, coaches, and sports managers delved into sports conditioning science, injury prevention techniques, rehabilitation, and trends in developing young athletes in modern sports. Vietnamese coaches, including Mr. Truong Quang Vu and Mr. Huynh Phu Quy, were also part of the Asia Federation of Pickleball's (AFP) youth development team. The involvement of Vietnamese expertise highlights the growing contribution of domestic sports human resources to the region's pickleball training and development activities. The championship featured 16 events across age groups U12, U14, U16, and U18, including singles and doubles. Vietnam fielded 144 athletes, representing approximately 44.6% of the total participants and making it the largest delegation. In the medal standings, Vietnam's junior pickleball team dominated, securing 19 gold medals (equivalent to 79.2% of all gold medals), 16 silver, and 17 bronze, clinching the overall championship. India ranked second with 2 gold medals, followed by the Philippines in third with 2 gold medals, and Taiwan (China) in fourth with 1 gold medal. This overwhelming success, coupled with the active participation of Vietnamese experts and coaches, underscores Vietnam's increasingly prominent role in the training, competition, and development of youth pickleball across Asia.