On 2/11/2025, the Tana Sport Pickleball complex – 29 Dao Duy Anh (HCMC) became the focal point for the Vietnamese business community as nearly 200 athletes gathered to participate in the Top 100 Business Style Pickleball Cup 2025, a classy and inspiring sports event, part of the journey to find the Top 100 Pioneers 2025.
Inaugural sports tournament for entrepreneurs in Ho Chi Minh City
From early morning, the atmosphere at the Tana Sport complex was brimming with energy, with the uniforms of nearly 200 athletes from all over adding vibrant color. The opening ceremony saw the presence of many respected figures in the professional and business community, such as Dr. Ly Thi Mai – Psychology Expert, Strategic Advisor of WLIN Global Network; Dr. Vu Thu Huong – Senior Officer, Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism; Dr. Nguyen Thu Huong – Chairwoman of WLIN Global Holdings, CEO of Nam Huong Media Group, Head of the tournament organizing committee, along with representatives from 13 sponsoring enterprises.
In her opening speech, Dr. Nguyen Thu Huong emphasized: “Pickleball is an opportunity for us, entrepreneurs who love sports, health, and sustainable development, to connect and spread positive energy together, building a healthier and happier community.”
The tournament brought together 16 women’s pairs, 32 men’s pairs, and 48 mixed pairs, taking place on 12 courts with transparent management through the Baseline digital platform and a professional referee team, ensuring fairness and quality in every match.
Spreading the movement of sporting among entrepreneurs
Even though it has only just launched, the Top 100 Business Style Pickleball Cup 2025 has quickly received strong support from the business community. Nearly 30 brands and enterprises from both major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, joined hands in sponsorship, including brands such as Dong Luc Sports, Angela Ngo, Thuong Dinh Yen Hoa, NOBLECO, Okini Food, SOI Spa, Genkii.vn, Gia Hung Group, Aura Development, Aquafina, La Sams…
The total value of prizes and gifts reached nearly 3 billion VND, reflecting the spirit of collaboration and sharing among businesses for the common goal of promoting sports and fostering connections within the Vietnamese business community.
Representatives of the organizing committee sent flowers and expressed gratitude to the sponsors, acknowledging their invaluable support in creating a professional, meticulous, and emotionally vibrant tournament.
Nerve-racking games and moments of sublimation
The competition categories ran continuously from morning to evening in an excited and lively atmosphere. Every serve, return, and precise finishing shot received enthusiastic cheers from the audience. Each athlete, whether winning or losing, displayed sportsmanship and gave their all on the court.
In particular, the mixed doubles final became the most emotional highlight of the tournament when the top victory went to the mother-and-child pair Dinh Thanh – Tran Bao An. Their seamless coordination, resilient spirit, and inspiring story across two generations on the same court brought the audience to a standing ovation.
By the end of the day, the men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles categories had each found their deserving winners. In women’s doubles, Kim Dung – Le Thi Hong Hiep won First Prize, followed by Van Trinh – Nguyen Thi Cam in Second Prize, while two pairs, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong – Nguyen Nguyet Thuy Trang and Tran Thi Hue – Nguyen Ngoc Diep, shared Third Prize.
In men’s doubles, the winners were Nhat Nguyen – Vinh Nguyen, Second Prize went to Dinh Quoc Phong – Phan Trung Hien, and Third Prize was shared by two pairs, Nguyen Duc Tung – Tran Phi Phong and Nguyen Tran Hau – Duong Hoang Tien.
In mixed doubles, the mother-and-child pair Dinh Thanh – Tran Bao An took First Prize, Nguyen Thi Cam – Khuu Thuong Tri earned Second Prize, and two pairs, Nguyen Thi Thuy – Truong Dinh Hung and Nguyen Ngoc Phuong – Tran Phi Phong, shared Third Prize.
Besides the main awards, the organizers also presented special categories to encourage interaction and spread the joy of sports, including Best Women’s Doubles Style, Best Men’s Doubles Style, Best Mixed Doubles Style, Friendliest Pair, Business Family Award, and the award for the oldest athlete. Among them, the pair Trang La – Thuy Nguyen was voted Best Women’s Doubles Style, Henry Lu – Kelly Luong received the Friendliest Pair award, and 67-year-old athlete Vu Thi Thu Nga became the oldest participant, bringing touching moments to the audience.
Sports: Bridging health, wellbeing, and Vietnamese entrepreneurship
As the sun began to set, the competition journey concluded with a Gala Dinner at Fugu Restaurant (Dong Khoi, District 1), where entrepreneurs, former “rivals” on the court, raised their glasses, shared stories, and connected. Singing, laughter, and conversations about health and team spirit closed out a full and emotionally rich day of competition.
More than just a sports tournament, the Top 100 Business Style Pickleball Cup 2025 became a bridge connecting the Vietnamese business community, inspiring a spirit of health and fitness, and promoting a dynamic lifestyle balanced between work and life.
With success beyond expectations, the tournament promises to become an annual sports event for the Top 100 Pioneers community, opening a new chapter for the entrepreneur Pickleball movement to spread strongly across the country, where every swing of the paddle represents not only skill and courage but also the harmony of energy, emotion, and the spirit of connection among Vietnamese entrepreneurs.
