Striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc sets historic record with six awards at AFC U23 Championship

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.

Gia Lai Province has outlined an ambitious plan to strengthen and expand its traditional martial arts movement, following the first congress of the Gia Lai Traditional Martial Arts Federation for the 2026–2030 term held on January 17 at the Provincial Convention Center.

Gia Lai Province hosted its first pickleball tournament for banking sector officials and employees on January 18, drawing nearly 70 participants to the High Five Pickleball court in Pleiku Ward.

U23 Vietnam defeated U23 Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in their second group-stage match at the AFC U23 Asian Cup, strengthening their grip on a quarterfinal place after back-to-back victories.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vietnam’s U22 team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat hosts Thailand 3-2 after extra time, clinching the men’s football gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games in one of the tournament’s most memorable finals.

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.