Vietnam MMA team awarded two slots for 20th Asian Games
VOV.VN - Vietnam has been awarded two quota places for the mixed martial arts competition at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20), allowing the country to compete in the sport’s historic debut at the continental multi-sport event despite missing the official qualifying tournament.
The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) allocated Vietnam one place in the women’s 54kg division and another in the men’s 77kg division after reviewing the country’s performances in previous continental competitions.
Vietnam did not participate in the 2026 Asian MMA Championships, held in Uzbekistan in May, which served as the official qualification tournament for ASIAD 20. However, the national team competed at the third Asian MMA Championships held in China earlier this year, and those results formed part of AMMA’s technical assessment for allocating additional quota places.
ASIAD 20 will mark the first time mixed martial arts is included as an official medal sport at the Asian Games, following its approval by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The competition will feature six medal events across the modern MMA and traditional MMA disciplines for both men and women.
The Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation is selecting suitable fighters, with Lo Thi Phung and Quang Van Minh reportedly among those being considered for the trip to Japan.
Vietnamese sports authorities are also working with the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the ASIAD 20 organising committee to complete athlete registration procedures before the deadline.
The MMA competition at ASIAD 20 is scheduled to take place from September 20 to 22 in Japan, providing Vietnam with its first opportunity to compete in the sport at Asia’s premier multi-sport event.
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