CJ Vietnam Open draws 167 athletes as Olympic qualification race begins
VOV.VN - As many as 167 athletes from 15 countries and territories will compete at the second CJ Vietnam Open, a World Taekwondo-recognised G1 tournament that offers valuable world ranking points and marks one of the first international competitions in the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Competition will take place on July 28-29 at Rach Mieu Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City. The tournament is jointly organised by the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, and the Republic of Korea's CJ Group.
Now in its second edition, the CJ Vietnam Open has expanded significantly after its successful debut last year as Vietnam’s first internationally sanctioned taekwondo tournament sponsored by CJ.
Recognised as a G1 event by World Taekwondo (WT), the tournament awards world ranking points that contribute to Olympic qualification. Athletes will compete in eight men’s and eight women’s weight categories under WT competition regulations.
This year’s event has attracted 167 athletes from 15 countries and territories, including Vietnam, Republic of Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia and several other Asian nations, compared with 112 athletes from 13 countries in the inaugural edition.
The tournament will be conducted using the official World Taekwondo electronic scoring system and an international panel of referees, providing athletes with competition conditions equivalent to other major WT-sanctioned events.
With the new Olympic ranking cycle beginning in July, the CJ Vietnam Open offers athletes one of their earliest opportunities to collect ranking points on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
For Vietnamese athletes, the tournament also provides a rare chance to compete in a World Taekwondo ranking event on home soil.
In previous years, Vietnamese competitors largely had to travel overseas to participate in international tournaments in order to gain ranking points and experience against elite opponents.
Hosting a WT-recognised event in Vietnam reduces those barriers while allowing domestic athletes to compete under international standards without leaving the country.
The competition is also expected to serve as an important preparation event ahead of the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) slated for September 19-October 4 in Japan.
CJ Vietnam Open 2025 kicks off in HCM City
VOV.VN - CJ Vietnam Open 2025, an international G1-level Taekwondo tournament, officially opened at Go Vap Sports & Cultural Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, on June 27.
