4 young Vietnamese pickleball players to compete at world championship in US

The Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP) formed the team consisting of four Vietnamese players to compete in the United States.

The delegation started departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

The Asian team is led by two Vietnamese coaches, including Truong Quang Vu, director of AFP’s talent development program, and Huynh Phu Qui, the program’s deputy director.

Initially, AFP selected six junior players for the competition: Kei Wasaki in Japan, and Tran Duc Khang, Pham Hoai Anh, Le Bao Lam, Tran Ho Dan Thanh, and Dan Linh Huong in Vietnam.

These athletes were chosen based on their performance at the Asia Pickleball Junior Open 2025 held in Tam Ky in the former Quang Nam Province, now part of Da Nang City in central Vietnam.

Quang Nam Province was merged with the old Da Nang City to form the new Da Nang in July.

However, due to visa issues, only Khang, Huong, and Thanh successfully obtained travel documents.

They will be joined by Le Vu Phuoc Loc, who received a special invitation to complete the four-member team.

The Vietnamese juniors will compete in all five events across three age categories – U12, U14, and U16.

On November 8, the Asian team is scheduled to face the U.S. U16 pickleball team.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our young athletes to compete, exchange experience, and learn in the birthplace of pickleball,” said coach Vu.

“It also highlights the growing presence and development of pickleball across Asia and particularly in Vietnam."