Dong Nai kicks off National Bodybuilding Championship 2025 with three medals

Dong Nai bodybuilding team won 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals on the opening day of the 2025 National Bodybuilding Championship, held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Athletes compete in the women's Athletic Physique event. Screenshot

On the afternoon of October 9, at Rach Mieu Gymnasium (Cau Kieu Ward), the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) coordinated with the Sports Authority of Viet Nam (SAV) and the Vietnam Bodybuilding & Weightlifting Federation (VBWF) to organize the opening of the 2025 National Bodybuilding Championship.

This event is an annual tournament designed to evaluate the bodybuilding training and competition movement across localities. It also serves as an opportunity to review and select promising athletes for the national team. This year’s tournament holds added significance as participating units are preparing their athletes for the 2026 National Sports Festival, which will also be held in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year’s tournament takes place from October 9 to 12, attracting nearly 150 athletes from 13 provinces, cities, and units nationwide, including Dong Nai. Athletes are competing in 33 categories, including: men’s bodybuilding (9 weight classes), women’s bodybuilding (4 weight classes), mixed pairs bodybuilding (4 weight classes), absolute bodybuilding championship (men’s and women’s all-around), men’s and women’s classic bodybuilding (8 weight classes), and men’s and women’s fitness (6 events).

Immediately after the opening ceremony, athletes competed in the qualifying, semi-final, and final rounds of the men's and women's "Athletic Physique" categories, divided by height classes: up to 160cm, 165cm, 170cm, and over 175cm.

At the end of the first day of competition, the Dong Nai bodybuilding team secured one gold medal and two silver medals. Female athlete Pham Dung Yen Linh delivered an outstanding performance, earning Dong Nai’s first gold medal in the over-165cm women's "Athletic Physique" event. Meanwhile, world champion Ta Thi Ngoc Bich claimed silver in the up-to-165cm women's "Athletic Physique" category. The gold medal in this event went to Nguyen Thi Kim Dung (HCMC). In the up-to-175cm men's "Athletic Physique" event, Pham Ngoc Sy took home the silver medal.

By Anh Tam – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho