Pickleball appeared for the first time with great enthusiasm at the 'Sports Festival for Journalists in Ho Chi Minh City'

New sport pickleball gains popularity

For nearly 20 years, every year on the occasion of the anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day on June 21, the Ho Chi Minh City Journalists Association has always organized many sports activities, in which, along with football, tennis is one of the sports that attracts a large number of players to participate. This is an opportunity for leaders, reporters, editors, and staff of press agencies to exercise, improve their physical fitness, and exchange to build solidarity and strengthen relationships with colleagues.

Lần đầu tiên môn pickleball xuất hiện khí thế tại 'Hội thao những người làm báo TP.HCM'- Ảnh 1. — Scene of the meeting to draw lots for the tennis and pickleball competitions

This year is especially the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, the Ho Chi Minh City Journalists Association in collaboration with Saigon Entrepreneur Magazine decided to raise the bar when organizing the "Ho Chi Minh City Open Sports Festival for Journalists 2025". The Organizing Committee introduced pickleball for the first time. This is a sport that is developing rapidly, attracting the attention and active participation of journalists. The expansion with two consecutive tennis and pickleball competitions in 3 days from June 14 to 16 will bring an exciting and exciting playground for journalists.

More than 150 players from 25 press agencies and 10 partners registered to compete in 5 events of pickleball, showing the strong spread of this new sport. In addition, although many athletes switched to pickleball, tennis still maintained its tradition, with no significant decrease in players. More than 80 players from 16 press agencies and 8 partners competed in 4 events.

Lần đầu tiên môn pickleball xuất hiện khí thế tại 'Hội thao những người làm báo TP.HCM'- Ảnh 2. — Journalist To Binh draws lots

16 press units and associations participating in tennis include Nhan Dan Newspaper, Quan Doi Nhan Dan Newspaper, Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper , Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Nong Nghiep Newspaper, Thanh Nien Newspaper, Phap Luat TP.HCM Newspaper, Vietnam Entrepreneur Magazine, Rural Brand Enterprise Magazine, Xetv.vn page, HTV Station, SCTV, VOV, VOH, Ho Chi Minh City Journalists Association, Binh Duong Journalists Association and partners such as Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF), Ho Chi Minh City Tennis Federation (HTF), PA 03 Ho Chi Minh City Police, Becamex IDC..

Gathering all the southern sports press

Many veteran players who have participated in previous years are still present, such as Le Hai ( Nong Nghiep Newspaper), Vo Thu Ha, Nguyen Huy Hoang (VOV), Le Cong Dong, Vuong Quyen, Le Thanh Dat (VOH), Nguyen To Binh, Do Van Luy, Do Van Truong (Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper), Duong Thanh Ba (Association of Journalists), Tran Ngoc Linh, Ngo Quang Hanh (SCTV), Cao Anh Minh, Do Huu Xuan Cuong (HTV), Doan Thanh Tung, Thai Tuan Kieu (VTF, HTF), Nguyen Van Hung, Mai Thanh Chung (Becamex), Huynh Kim Huy, Vu Hoang Ha, Tran Ha Thanh, Nguyen Thai Nguyen ( Thanh Nien Newspaper).

Lần đầu tiên môn pickleball xuất hiện khí thế tại 'Hội thao những người làm báo TP.HCM'- Ảnh 3. — Reporter Huy Hoang (VOV) gives comments on the competition subjects and format

In addition to the press agencies in tennis, there are 12 other press agencies participating in pickleball such as Vietnam News Agency, Sports and Culture Newspaper, Women's Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Labor Capital Newspaper, Saigon Economic Magazine, Saigon Entrepreneur Magazine, VTC News, VTV9 Radio, FPT Play, Hanoi Television, National Assembly Information Portal. Many journalists will gather to compete in this attractive playground, notably Doc Lap, Quang Huy, Hoang Quynh, Quoc Viet, Dinh Phu, Nghi Thao, Hong Van, Phan Thuong, Doan Dieu (Thanh Nien Newspaper), Hoang Linh, Van An (VOH), Tri Vien (FPT Play), Le Tuan, Ngoc Quang ( Ho Chi Minh City Police Newspaper), Dao Tung (Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper), Tuong Van, Mai Anh, Trung Khiem, Thanh Binh (HTV)...

Lần đầu tiên môn pickleball xuất hiện khí thế tại 'Hội thao những người làm báo TP.HCM'- Ảnh 4. — Independent Reporter draw

The draw for the competition schedule of these two sports took place enthusiastically on June 11. There will be many groups and very balanced matches that promise to be exciting and dramatic. Tennis will be played on June 14 and 15 at Hoang Thien Stadium (No. 19 Duong Quang Dong Street, District 8) with 4 events: men's doubles for leaders and journalists over 50 years old, men's doubles under 45 years old, mixed doubles and men's doubles for business journalists. Pickleball will be played on June 16 at The 8386 Courts (No. 71, National Highway 13, Hiep Binh Chanh, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City) with 5 events: men's doubles over 45 years old, men's doubles under 45 years old, mixed doubles, women's doubles and men's doubles for business journalists.