Powerful shouts of encouragement filled the training ground. The six Vietnamese taekwondo national team athletes who achieved the remarkable result of both men's and women's teams advancing to the quarterfinals at the Aichi-Nagoya, Japan Asian Games trained diligently despite the heat. Sweat poured down the athletes' faces like rain. This is a scene from the Vietnam taekwondo national team training ground located at the National Training Center within Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports, which we visited on September 17 (local time).
A familiar logo caught the eye on the athletes' training uniforms. It was the logo of Korean company CJ Group. CJ Group has been sponsoring the Vietnam taekwondo national team since 2012. In addition to dispatching Korean coaches and providing training equipment, it supports costs for participating in international competitions and overseas training camps. Ahead of the Asian Games, it also supported a training camp in Korea and competition equipment such as electronic protective gear.
The biggest change brought by CJ Group's sponsorship is that opportunities to compete on the international stage have increased. Kim Gil-tae, head coach of the Vietnam taekwondo national team, said, "To participate in the Olympics, one must consistently accumulate ranking points at international competitions," adding, "In the past, we could only attend about three international competitions, but with CJ Group's support, we can now attend up to eight."
For athletes who find it difficult to participate in international competitions, opportunities to compete against the world's best on home soil have also emerged. This is because a World Taekwondo (WT) recognized G1-level international competition was held in Vietnam for the first time with CJ Group's support. Coach Kim explained, "It is a heavy financial burden to send five athletes to an overseas competition," adding, "With international competitions being held in Vietnam, athletes with difficult financial conditions can also gain experience and earn ranking points."
The changes felt by the athletes were significant. Athlete Tran Thi Anh Tuyet said, "Thanks to CJ Group's sponsorship, we have been able to participate more frequently in international competitions and overseas training camps," adding, "I hope there will be even more opportunities to compete against foreign athletes in the future."
The athletes, who had serious expressions while discussing international competitions and training, smiled brightly when the topic turned to food. When asked about their favorite among the foods supported by CJ Group, the answer was 'mandu' (dumplings). Coach Kim said, "The athletes really love Bibigo mandu and kimchi," adding, "When we receive several boxes of support, they sometimes bring them along according to the competition schedule."
The Vietnam taekwondo national team, which recorded meaningful results at this Asian Games, including Bac Thi Khiem (women's +67kg) and Nguyen Hong Trong (men's -58kg) advancing to the quarterfinals, is continuing new challenges through a generational shift. CJ Group's sponsorship, which has continued since 2012, will last until 2028.
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