Overcoming adversity: Nguyen Duc Anh’s journey to world championship gold

Having faced the prospect of missing his first international competition due to a serious injury, Nguyen Duc Anh, a member of the Dong Nai City Traditional Martial Arts Team, trained with determination and worked hard to recover, returning to competition in time. He went on to win a world championship gold medal in Italy in 2026, bringing glory to Dong Nai City.

Portrait of martial artist Nguyen Duc Anh. Photo: Huy Anh.

Fighting his way back from injury

In early 2026, news that the World Championships & Junior Championships of Vocotruyen – Italia 2026 would be held in Italy sparked a strong sense of determination in Nguyen Duc Anh. Although the official selection list had not yet been announced, he proactively stepped up his physical conditioning and technical training.

After learning that he had been selected to compete internationally, his excitement at the prospect of taking part in his first major tournament drove him to push himself through increasingly intensive training. However, overexertion led to an unexpected setback. Less than two months before the competition, Anh sustained multiple injuries to his knee, arm and shoulder joint. His mobility deteriorated noticeably, and his dream of competing internationally seemed to have slipped away.

"When I got injured, I was very worried because this was the biggest tournament I had ever been scheduled to compete in. Representing Vietnam on the world stage is a great honor for me," Anh said.

Unwilling to give up, Anh decided to travel to Da Nang for treatment. During a month away from home, he patiently worked through each physical therapy exercise, gradually improving his condition.

Encouragement from his family, coaches and friends helped boost his confidence. When he returned to Dong Nai to train with the team during the month leading up to the competition, he was only about 80% recovered physically and still far from peak competitive form. The coaching staff developed a training program tailored to his physical condition, while his teammates also supported him during training.

Nguyen Duc Anh with the Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Team at the World Championships & Junior Championships of Vocotruyen – Italia 2026.

According to Le Thanh Nhan, coach of the Dong Nai City Traditional Martial Arts Team, Anh is a talented athlete with a strong passion for martial arts who has maintained consistent performance over the years. When they learned about his injuries, the coaching staff proactively arranged time for treatment, adjusted his training program and designed an adapted schedule that allowed him to recover while maintaining his competitive readiness.

Tears of joy at the pinnacle of victory

From September 30 to October 5, 2026, the World Championships & Junior Championships of Vocotruyen – Italia 2026 took place in Cervia, Ravenna Province, in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, attracting martial artists from around the world. Dong Nai City contributed three athletes to the Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Team. Nguyen Duc Anh competed in the 57kg weight category in the Form 1 combat event.

Before entering the competition, Anh had to adapt to the different climate, undergo a demanding weight-cutting process and contend with disadvantages in reach and physical stature compared with foreign opponents. Setting aside pressure over the results to free himself mentally, he stepped into the ring determined to give his best, gain valuable experience and contribute to Vietnamese sports and his hometown of Dong Nai.

With support from the coaching staff and his teammates, Anh combined flexible tactics with unwavering determination to defeat his opponents one after another and win the gold medal. The medal was one of three prestigious gold medals that Dong Nai City athletes contributed to Vietnam's overall medal tally at the tournament.

Nguyen Duc Anh wins gold in the 57kg combat event.

After winning gold, Anh wanted to call his family and coaches to share the news. "I wanted to tell everyone that I had made it. Everything I went through, I have now proven through the result I achieved," Anh recalled emotionally.

For him, the gold medal was the reward for his perseverance and also a testament to the support of his family, teachers, teammates and everyone who had helped him throughout his preparation. The achievement also provided him with valuable experience as it marked his first time competing at a world championship.

Nguyen Duc Anh and fellow Dong Nai athletes celebrate their gold medals at the international competition. Photo: Huy Anh.

Nurturing a passion for martial arts in the countryside

Alongside training and competing for the Dong Nai City Traditional Martial Arts Team, Nguyen Duc Anh has also devoted considerable effort to developing the martial arts movement in his hometown. In March 2025, he established NDA Muaythai Club in Loc Quang Commune, hoping to introduce Muay Thai to more local young people and provide them with a healthy sporting activity after school.

"I hope that through martial arts training, young people can not only improve their physical fitness and learn self-defense skills, but also develop discipline, confidence and the determination to overcome difficulties," Anh said.

NDA Muaythai Club provides a sporting environment for young people in Loc Quang Commune.

Establishing a martial arts club in a rural area such as Loc Quang has been far from easy. The local sports movement in general, and Muay Thai in particular, remains underdeveloped. Meanwhile, Anh has had to cover all the initial costs of investing in facilities and training equipment himself. He must also maintain his training and competition schedule with the city team, making it challenging to balance his time and finances.

Duc Anh accompanies his students to a competition in his capacity as their coach.

Despite a difficult start, NDA Muaythai Club has attracted approximately 30–40 trainees, most aged six to 17. They receive instruction in everything from the basics, including warm-ups, physical conditioning, stances and footwork, to Muay Thai techniques. Anh tailors his coaching methods to the ages and abilities of his students. For younger trainees, he focuses on instilling discipline and inspiring them to be physically active. For older students, he gradually raises expectations for technical proficiency, physical fitness, self-defense skills and tactical thinking.

According to Anh, the club's goals extend beyond training talented students for competitions. It also aims to encourage more local young people to exercise regularly, provide them with a place for after-school activities and help them develop positive lifestyles.

In the coming years, Nguyen Duc Anh aims to maintain and sustainably expand the club while developing young martial artists who can contribute to the local martial arts movement and the sporting achievements of Dong Nai City.

By Huy Anh, Minh Hanh – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho