The Can Tho archery team is focusing its preparations on collective strength and disciplined teamwork ahead of the upcoming National Sports Games, adjusting its medal targets after a roster consolidation. Under the guidance of coach Nguyen Dinh Hai, the squad features 10 athletes and two coaches competing in men’s and women’s recurve disciplines.
At the training grounds of the Can Tho Sport Training and Competition Center in Soc Trang, where the archer from Phu Tam commune and his teammates diligently draw bows, take aim, and release arrows requiring precise coordination along with mental and physical control, 23-year-old archer Tran Thanh Quy prepares for his third appearance at the national tournament after having practiced the sport for nine years. Quy is slated to compete in the individual 90m, 70m, 50m, and 30m events, targeting a podium finish in the 90m and 70m distances while pursuing a master athlete standard, stating that his biggest goal is to win his first individual medal at the Games while striving to achieve the master athlete standard.
Roster Consolidation Shapes Can Tho Archery Training
The current Can Tho squad was largely inherited from the former Soc Trang archery team following regional administrative integration. The merger brought together athletes from different local backgrounds, including three competitors from Hau Giang—comprising one young prospect and two established talents—while the former Can Tho unit lacked sufficient personnel to field a full squad independently.
Administrative shifts and fluctuating investment levels prompted the coaching staff to carefully reevaluate their competitive goals. Initially aiming for a silver medal, team leadership elevated the target to a gold medal after assessing the combined roster’s capabilities. Training sessions run three times daily—morning, noon, and evening throughout the week—supplemented by an intensive training camp in Ba Ria – Vung Tau to adapt to outdoor environmental conditions such as sun, wind, and open space, with Quy noting that training and familiarizing oneself with the competition environment is essential since weather conditions affect shot execution during actual competition.
Team Disciplines Take Priority for National Competition
Coaching staff have concentrated financial and training investments heavily on the men’s and women’s team events. Coach Nguyen Dinh Hai noted that team competitions demand strict coordination and stability from every member, requiring each archer to deliver consistent scores that bolster the collective total.
The broader competition schedule for the X National Sports Games in 2026 encompasses 32 events featuring both recurve and compound bow categories. Le gare si svolgeranno dal 20 al 30 novembre presso lo stadio Lam Son, nel quartiere di Vung Tau, a Ho Chi Minh City. Individual distance matches take place from November 23 to November 25, while team qualifications and medal rounds are set for November 27 through November 29.
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