Sports

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (Hoàng Anh Gia Lai FC) face a decisive relegation showdown on Sunday as they host SHB Đà Nẵng FC at Pleiku Stadium, with only one point separating the two sides at the bottom of the V.League 2025-2026 table.

Senior Master Nguyễn Văn Cảnh, coach of the Gia Lai provincial traditional martial arts team under the Bình Định Traditional Martial Arts Center, is participating in the 3rd National & South Asia VVFI Training Camp 2026 in India from January 31 to February 5.

More than 100 athletes from 15 teams across residential groups, armed forces units, and local businesses competed in Thong Nhat Ward’s 2026 traditional table tennis tournament, which concluded on January 25 in Gia Lai Province.

A friendly football match marking the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026 was held on January 25 at Quy Nhon Stadium, bringing together former Bình Định football players and members of the Gia Lai Young Entrepreneurs Association.

LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Academy has named 24 successful candidates for its 2026 U13 cohort following a five-day recruitment process, the academy announced on January 22.

LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Academy on January 17 launched its 2026 “Future warriors” recruitment festival, drawing nearly 500 candidates under 13 from 28 training centres and community football clubs across Vietnam to the Ham Rong Training Center in Gia Lai province.

Quy Nhon University’s men’s football team booked a place in the play-off round of the 2026 Vietnam Youth and Student Football Championship after finishing top of their group with a perfect record in the Ho Chi Minh City regional qualifiers.

Gia Lai province has approved an expansive plan to restructure and modernize its elite sports system for the 2026-2030 period, aiming to overcome persistent shortcomings in athlete development, facilities, and funding. 

Gia Lai’s athletics team has signalled a strong return to national contention after the administrative merger, winning two gold medals and one bronze at the 2026 National Mountain Marathon “Conquering Ba Ra Peak” and finishing second overall, behind the Military team.

Đào Hà Tâm Du, a young boxer from Gia Lai province, has established himself as one of Vietnam’s most promising youth athletes after winning four consecutive gold medals at national youth boxing championships, underscoring his consistency, competitive edge and long-term potential.

Among the members of the Vietnam U23 national team participating in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals, set to take place in Saudi Arabia, Dinh Hong Vinh serves as the chief assistant to head coach Kim Sang Sik, He is also the President of Quy Nhon United Football Club.

Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ of Gia Lai claimed the women’s 42km title at the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026 on the morning of January 11, finishing in 2 hours, 46 minutes and 19 seconds. The men’s marathon crown went to Huỳnh Anh Khôi of Ho Chi Minh City.

Young chess player Hoàng Tấn Vinh from Gia Lai has received a Certificate of Merit from Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defence in recognition of his outstanding achievements at international competitions, including medals at the World Youth Chess Championship.

U23 Vietnam launched their AFC U23 Asian Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia with an emphatic 2-0 victory over U23 Jordan, defying pre-match expectations to secure a confident opening win.

Chess player Huy Duy Tấn of Kỳ Ngộ Club clinched the championship title at the 3rd Dam Me Chinese Chess Variant (cờ úp) Tournament 2025, which concluded on the evening of January 3 after more than a month of competition.

Vietnam’s U22 success at the 33rd SEA Games has delivered a timely and emphatic response to long-standing doubts over the effectiveness of Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s (HAGL) youth development system and the vision of its chairman, Đoàn Nguyên Đức, widely known as boss Đức.

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.

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.

Gia Lai province on December 19 held a welcome ceremony for Nguyễn Thị Bích Thảo, celebrating her contribution to Vietnam’s gold medal victory in women’s handball at the 33rd SEA Games.

Vietnam’s women’s handball team, featuring Gia Lai native Nguyễn Thị Bích Thảo, clinched the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games on December 17 after a commanding 24–16 victory over Thailand in the final.