Can Tho’s judo squad is intensifying preparations for the 10th National Sports Festival, hitting the mats at the Can Tho City Sports Training and Competition Center in Soc Trang Ward with a demanding regimen of sparring, technical drills, and conditioning.
Intense Training and Joint Sparring Sessions
Inside the training hall, the atmosphere reflects a strict sense of urgency as judoka cycle through movement, balance, striking, throwing, and grappling drills under the close supervision of their coaching staff. Training sessions frequently incorporate practice matches to sharpen reflexes, test situational awareness, and maintain competitive pacing.
To build a competitive edge, Can Tho’s athletes have been sparring with visiting judo teams from Thanh Hoa and Vinh Long provinces currently training at the center. These joint workouts provide a sharp, high-intensity environment where athletes can measure their progress against outside competition.
Schedule and Phased Preparation
The team’s preparation for the national showcase began early in the year through domestic tournaments and dedicated training blocks. On Sept. 1, the squad entered a concentrated training phase designed to polish technique, build endurance, and sharpen overall combat readiness.
The preparation schedule is divided into distinct phases. Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, the team relocated to Ho Chi Minh City for specialized training. A second phase runs from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15 in Vung Tau Ward—the designated venue for the festival’s judo and Kurash competitions—allowing Can Tho’s athletes to adjust to local living conditions and the competition venue roughly seven to 10 days before matches begin.
Medal Ambitions Across 28 Events
The 10th National Sports Festival judo competitions run from Nov. 14 to Nov. 22 at the Vung Tau Ward Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City. The discipline features 32 total events, broken down into 18 individual combat (kumite) divisions, four team events, and 10 forms (pumse) categories.
Can Tho has registered to compete in 28 of those events, including 18 combat divisions and 10 form categories. Head coach Nguyen Minh Thi noted that every athlete selected for the roster is an elite competitor capable of challenging for a podium finish.
However, Minh Thi acknowledged that the path to the medals will demand maximum effort given the rigorous preparation undertaken by rival delegations. “It will be a very fierce battle,” Minh Thi said. “Every team is very strong, so we have no choice but to try our absolute best.”
Weight Class Expectations and Recent Form
Can Tho’s coaching staff has targeted specific divisions for strong medal performances, focusing heavily on women’s lightweight categories—such as the 40kg, 48kg, and 70kg classes—alongside the women’s team event. These divisions align with the squad’s core strengths and recent domestic successes.
In April 2026, Can Tho hosted the National Judo Club Championships, where the Can Tho City 1 team finished second overall with a haul of six gold, six silver, and four bronze medals. The team followed that performance in July 2026 at the National Youth Judo Championships in Thanh Hoa, adding four gold, 10 silver, and 17 bronze medals to their tally.
With a comprehensive training schedule now moving toward its final phase in Vung Tau, Can Tho’s judo team aims to translate early-season momentum and rigorous technical preparation into podium finishes on the national stage.
