Competing across eight sports, the province won 16 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze medals, securing second place overall for the second consecutive festival.
The province demonstrated particular strength in stilt running, claiming seven gold medals, the highest among all delegations. Young athletes from Ia Krêl commune, such as Rơ Châm Dác (born 2006) and Rơ Lan Ưm (born 2011), played a pivotal role, with Dác winning gold in the women’s 100m stilt run and Ưm taking gold in the women’s 400m event. Dác has represented Gia Lai in provincial and regional competitions since age 10.
Gia Lai also excelled in crossbow shooting, securing two gold medals in the men’s team and women’s individual categories. Ksor Lok, a leading athlete from Ayun Pa ward, contributed to the men’s team victory and emphasized the importance of preserving traditional sports through training and youth engagement.
Nguyen Van Ý, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the Central Highlands, highlighted the province’s strategy of fostering grassroots sports movements and preserving ethnic cultural traditions.
Annual provincial festivals serve as talent incubators, selecting athletes for regional and national competitions and providing opportunities to exchange experience and develop technical skills.
The 2025 festival showcased not only the competitive excellence of Gia Lai athletes but also the province’s ongoing investment in sports development, promising a sustainable foundation for future regional and national tournaments.
