Following their historic silver medal win in table tennis at the 18th SEA Games and their efforts in promoting tennis in HCM City, brothers Ly Minh Triet and Ly Minh Tan have set their sights on capturing the Asian gold medal in pickleball to introduce and popularise this emerging sport in Vietnam.

With their strong attacking style and adept defensive skills, Triet and Tan clinched the gold medal in the over 50 age category at the WPC Series - Asia Pacific 2024 Race to Carmelina event, held earlier this month at the Carmelina Resort in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. They emerged victorious after a tough final match against a formidable pair from Singapore.

Their recent achievements have fueled their ambition to reach new heights at the inaugural Asian Open Championship, organized by the Pickleball and Friends Vietnam Club. The championship will be held from April 30 to May 4 at the Ky Hoa 2 Club in HCM City, offering a substantial prize pool of up to US$30,000.

Expressing their aspirations, the Ly brothers aim to bring home the gold medal and further promote pickleball, a sport that aligns well with the qualities of Vietnamese people and provides sports enthusiasm with another choice.

During the 1990s, the Ly brothers excelled as professional table tennis players, representing both the People's Public Security team and the Vietnamese national team. Triet, born in 1972, secured two national gold medals in the men's singles category in 1995 and 1996, while Tan, born in 1974, obtained the national men's doubles gold medal in 1996 and the men's singles bronze medal in 1995. The pinnacle of their table tennis careers came when they won the historic silver medal for the men's team at the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai in 1995.

After retiring in the early 2000s, Triet and Tan continued to make their mark by promoting tennis practice and competition. Leveraging their ingenuity and athletic abilities, they achieved success in various tournaments, including the Becamex and Phu My Hung tournaments.

Having played tennis for a considerable period, both brothers suffered knee injuries and contemplated quitting the sport. However, their path took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon pickleball, a newly introduced sport in Vietnam. They began playing with their friends and quickly a passion for the game, which combines elements of table tennis and tennis, played on a court the size of a badminton court.

"When I discovered this sport, I realized it was highly suitable for Vietnamese people. Its dynamic ball movements demand quick reflexes, skill, perseverance and patience to secure victory," Triet said.

Harnessing their inherent creativity and agility, the Ly brothers quickly established themselves as a formidable duo in Vietnamese pickleball after just a few months of practice. Their breakthrough moment arrived when they emerged victorious in the open championship held in Binh Duong Province in November 2023.

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport played by either two players (singles) or four players (doubles). Participants wield paddles to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net. The objective is to continue the rally until one side fails to return the ball or violates a rule.

Originating in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, pickleball has experienced tremendous growth. It was heralded as the fastest-growing sport in the US in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with an estimated 4.8 million players by 2023.

Despite being only recently introduced in Vietnam, pickleball has witnessed significant expansion, with approximately 25 pickleball clubs now established across the country. VNS