The Vietnamese delegation concluded its campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on October 4 with three gold, three silver and 19 bronze medals, placing 20th in the overall standings. The result was one place higher than at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, but the number of gold medals remained unchanged.

Vietnam’s three golds came from sports in which the country has traditionally been competitive. The women's team kata squad won gold in karate, while the women's sepak takraw team claimed two titles, in the women's doubles and quadrant disciplines.

The two Sepak Takraw victories were among the highlights of the campaign. In the women's quadrant final on October 3, Vietnam defeated Thailand 2-1 to successfully defend the title won at the previous Asian Games.

Strong performances, but gold-medal depth remains a challenge

The 25-medal haul included three silver medals and 19 bronzes, with podium finishes spread across sports including wushu, rowing, karate, shooting, athletics, canoeing, boxing, weightlifting, esports and sepak takraw.

There were also notable individual performances. Nguyen Thi Tam won silver in the women's 51kg boxing, while other Vietnamese athletes added medals in a range of Olympic and Asian-level disciplines.

At the same time, the final result fell short of the delegation's pre-Games target of four to six gold medals. Several sports expected to contribute golds, including shooting and athletics, did not deliver titles. VOV learned that Vietnam finished fifth in Southeast Asia, behind Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Thailand led the region with 18 gold medals, followed by Malaysia with nine, Indonesia with five and the Philippines with four. Vietnam's three golds placed it fifth in the regional standings.

The gap is particularly notable in comparison with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, which all exceeded their pre-Games gold-medal targets. Thailand's 18 golds included titles in athletics and other Olympic sports, while Malaysia and Indonesia also secured golds across a broader range of disciplines.

For Vietnam, the challenge is therefore not simply to increase the number of medals, but to develop a broader base of athletes capable of competing for gold at the continental level.

A closer look at the next cycle

Vietnam's result also highlights the difference between its strong performances at regional competitions and the higher level of competition at the Asian Games.

Head of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation Nguyen Hong Minh acknowledged that competition in Asia has become increasingly intense, particularly in key Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, rowing and weightlifting. He pointed to the need for better assessment of competitors, more precise preparation for major competitions and a longer-term investment strategy.

The issue is also reflected in the comparison with the previous Asian Games. Vietnam won three gold, five silver and 19 bronze medals in Hangzhou in 2022. Four years later, the country has retained its three golds and 19 bronzes, but collected two fewer silver medals, leaving its overall haul at 25 compared with 27 in 2022.

The result does not erase the progress made by individual athletes or teams during the Games. Rather, it points to a broader challenge for Vietnamese sport: turning promising performances and podium finishes into more gold medals, particularly in Olympic disciplines where competition at the Asian level is increasingly close to world-class standards.

With the Aichi-Nagoya Games now over, Vietnamese sport enters a new cycle towards the 2027 SEA Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The lessons from Japan will provide an opportunity to reassess priorities, strengthen preparation and build greater depth in the sports capable of competing for medals at the highest level.

ASIAD 2026: Vietnam beat Thailand to defend women’s Sepak Takraw gold

VOV.VN - Vietnam defeated Thailand 2-1 in a thrilling women’s quadrant final at ASIAD 2026 on October 3, successfully defending the gold medal won in Sepak Takraw at the previous Asian Games.