Vietnam Pickleball Federation Established to Promote Sport and International Integration

On July 28, the First National Congress of the Vietnam Pickleball Federation for the 2026-2031 term was held in Hanoi, officially marking the establishment of the federation. The congress was attended by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Member of the Central Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Information Department, and General Director of Vietnam Television; Mr. Vu Chien Thang, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs; Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; along with representatives from the General Department of Sports, relevant state management agencies, sports organizations, clubs, businesses, coaches, referees, athletes, and numerous delegates. The establishment of the Pickleball Federation is positioned as a national professional organization to meet the growing demands of the sport, which is attracting an increasing number of participants and competitors in Vietnam. In recent years, pickleball has developed rapidly, with a system of clubs, training grounds, tournaments, training institutions, and sports equipment and service providers emerging. The federation's formation is expected to create a unified platform for organizing activities, enhancing professional standards, promoting systematic development, and strengthening international cooperation. During the congress, delegates discussed and approved the Federation's Charter, its operational direction for the 2026-2031 term, and resolutions for future development. Key priorities for the first term include expanding the national network of members and clubs, standardizing the training of coaches, referees, and athletes, and developing the competition system. Emphasis will also be placed on leveraging science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in management, training, and operational activities, alongside expanding international cooperation to elevate Vietnam's pickleball profile. The congress elected a 37-member Executive Committee for the 2026-2031 term, with Mr. Le Van Thanh appointed as the new President of the Vietnam Pickleball Federation. Mr. Thanh affirmed that the federation's establishment aligns with the development needs of pickleball and the Party and State's policies for sports development. He stressed that the federation will operate on the principles of voluntarism, democracy, solidarity, transparency, and legal compliance, with quality, efficiency, and sustainable development as its core objectives. Moving forward, the federation plans to prioritize building a synchronized organizational system, expanding its membership and club base, perfecting the national competition system, establishing athlete rankings, and gradually forming national and youth teams. Digital transformation is identified as a key task, involving the creation of a national pickleball database, a member and club management system, online competition registration, and electronic profiles for coaches, referees, and athletes to enhance management efficiency. The federation aims to make Vietnam one of the leading pickleball nations in Asia by 2035 and a destination for international pickleball tournaments by 2045. Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong lauded the congress as significant for defining Vietnam's pickleball vision and development direction. He urged the Executive Committee to swiftly organize its structure, establish operating regulations, standardize professional work, promote grassroots development safely and effectively, focus on identifying and training young talent, form national teams, and enhance the application of science, technology, digital transformation, and international cooperation. He also called for effective mobilization of social resources to develop infrastructure, organize tournaments, and build the Vietnam pickleball brand. Deputy Minister Cuong expressed confidence that the Executive Committee will leverage collective wisdom and social resources to successfully implement the congress's resolutions and make pickleball a leading sport in Vietnam. He reiterated the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's appreciation for professional social organizations in sports development, noting that the federation's formation will foster better coordination among management agencies, organizations, businesses, and participants, promoting the sport's professional, modern, and integrated development. The success of the congress heralds a new era for pickleball in Vietnam. With a unified organizational system and a clear development roadmap, the Vietnam Pickleball Federation is poised to implement concrete action programs to enhance professional quality, expand operations, strengthen international integration, and contribute to the nation's sports development.