Hoang Anh Gia Lai to host Group C in 2025-2026 national U19 championship qualifiers

More than 1,300 people took part in the APC Green Color Run 2025 on the morning of December 27, an event organised by Asia Pacific International School Gia Lai to promote environmental protection and community health.

A community-based taekwondo club in Vietnam’s Central Highlands has grown into a key talent pipeline for provincial and national teams, combining grassroots training with elite athlete development.

Chi Lăng High School in Hoi Phu Ward, Gia Lai Province, has emerged as a standout example of a strong school sports movement, with football at its core attracting wide student participation and delivering consistent competitive success.

Recently, three coaches from Gia Lai successfully completed the Pro/AFC/VFF 2024/25 professional football coaching course. This is the highest-level coaching program within the training system of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Vietnam’s national football team has recorded the world’s biggest improvement in FIFA’s December 2025 rankings, rising three places to 107th following its recent Asian Cup qualifying victory.

Making a significant contribution to U22 Vietnam's victory in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games, head coach Kim Sang-sik was awarded a medal crafted from 33 taels of 24K gold.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien has been named among the Top Five finalists for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball, the award’s organizing committee announced on December 23.

Grassroots martial arts clubs across Gia Lai province are intensifying exchange activities and friendly competitions to help young fighters gain practical experience, identify emerging talent and sustain the local combat sports movement.

Former players from Gia Lai Football Club joined about 150 retired footballers nationwide at the 9th Vietnam Former Footballers Festival, held on December 20 at Binh Phuoc Stadium.

More than 300 athletes from 18 teams took part in the opening of the first Ayun Pa Ward Sports Festival 2025 on the morning of December 16 at the ward stadium in Gia Lai province, marking a major local sporting event aimed at promoting unity and grassroots sports.

U22 Vietnam struck twice in the closing minutes to defeat U22 Philippines 2-0 in the men’s football semi-final at the 33rd SEA Games, becoming the first team to secure a place in the final at Rajamangala Stadium.

Nguyễn Thị Loan, a taekwondo athlete from Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, won a silver medal in the women’s 53kg category at the 33rd SEA Games on December 12, marking a notable achievement for Vietnamese sport.

Vietnam’s U22 secured first place in Group B at the 33rd SEA Games after a decisive 2–0 victory over Malaysia U22, easing concerns raised by their earlier unconvincing performance and strengthening their prospects for the semifinals.

Vietnam’s taekwondo team added to its medal tally on December 11 as Nguyễn Thị Mai of Gia Lai secured a bronze medal in the women’s 46 kg division at the 33rd SEA Games.

Nearly 1,000 students across Gia Lai province participated in the Uprace 2025 charity running event, launched on the morning of 9 December at Quy Nhon College of Engineering and Technology.

Q&A with Đỗ Bích Ngọc, Secretary General of the Vietnam Powerboat Sports Federation

Thailand’s organizing committee for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) has confirmed that all preparations are complete, ensuring the event will proceed on schedule despite earlier venue adjustments caused by flooding.

Young Vietnamese chess prodigy Hoàng Tấn Vinh from Gia Lai secured four medals at the 2025 Asian Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, held from November 20 - 30. Competing in the U10 category, Vinh contributed significantly to Vietnam’s medal tally.

Quy Nhon United has returned to training after more than three weeks off, facing damaged facilities, key injuries and a disrupted preparation period as the 2025–2026 First Division season remains on break until January 31, 2026. 

Nguyen Chi Thanh High School in Hoi Phu Ward has reaffirmed its status as a key training ground for ethnic minority sports after contributing significantly to Gia Lai’s second-place finish at the 14th National Ethnic Minority Sports Festival (Region II) held in Dong Nai from 15–24 November.

Lê Văn Miền, a longtime motorbike mechanic from Pleiku City in Vietnam’s Gia Lai Province, has transformed a personal quest for better health into a thriving local cycling movement that also supports charity efforts across the community.

A charity run marking the 79th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Red Cross Society will be held on November 23 in Pleiku City, aiming to raise funds to purchase ambulances for underprivileged patients.

Malaysia beat Nepal 1–0 in the fifth round of Group F in the final qualifying stage for the 2027 Asian Cup on Nov. 18, extending their lead over group's second-place Vietnam to six points.

While many schools across Gia Lai province have seen a decline in sports activities since the recent administrative reorganization, student football in the former Hoai Nhon town has surged with renewed energy and community support.