Nearly 400 athletes participated in the NTV - Bia Sao Vang Pickleball Cup.

On the afternoon of April 17th, at the Vinh City Pickleball Courts (77 Phan Boi Chau Street, Vinh Hung Ward), Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television Station, in coordination with the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, organized the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd NTV - Sao Vang Beer Pickleball Cup 2026.

Attending the ceremony was Comrade Ngoc Kim Nam – Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Provincial Party Committee.

Also attending were members of the Provincial Party Committee: Phung Thanh Vinh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Tran Minh Ngoc - Director of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television, Chairman of the Nghe An Journalists Association; Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; along with representatives from various departments, sponsors, clubs, athletes and a large number of sports enthusiasts.

The opening ceremony took place in a vibrant and professional atmosphere with opening cultural performances and flag-raising rituals. The program was broadcast live on the digital platforms of Nghe An Television, the Nghe An Television Fanpage, Nghe An Newspaper, the Nghe An TV YouTube channel, and the NTVgo application, allowing a large audience to follow along.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Trung Thao, Deputy Director of Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television, and Head of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that, building on the success of the first season in 2025, the 2nd NTV - Sao Vang Beer Pickleball Cup in 2026 will continue to expand in scale, improve professional quality, and attract a large number of athletes from within and outside the province. This demonstrates the strong spread of pickleball, a modern, dynamic sport suitable for many age groups, contributing to promoting the physical training and sports movement in the community.

According to the Organizing Committee, this year's tournament brings together 368 athletes from over 60 clubs, competing in 7 categories: men's doubles pro, women's doubles pro, men's doubles under 40, men's doubles 40 and over, women's doubles, mixed doubles, and men's doubles for leaders. The total prize money is over 280 million VND. Of that, the men's doubles pro category alone has a prize of 35 million VND, while the remaining categories each offer over 20 million VND for the winning pair.

Beyond being an exciting sporting event, this year's tournament also carries a profound humanitarian significance. Through the support of businesses, organizations, and individuals, the Organizing Committee has mobilized resources to support the construction of housing for disadvantaged households in Nghe An province. As of the opening ceremony, seven organizations had pledged to support the construction of 11 houses with a total value of 570 million VND.

At the opening ceremony, representatives from sponsoring organizations and philanthropists presented symbolic gifts to support social welfare programs. This was a meaningful highlight, contributing to making the NTV - Sao Vang Beer Pickleball Cup not only a sporting event but also a bridge of sharing with the community.

Also during the program, the Organizing Committee presented flowers to express gratitude to the partners and sponsors of the tournament. These included Hoanh Son Group Joint Stock Company, Sao Vang Beer, Wine and Beverage Group Joint Stock Company and its Sao Vang beverage brand, BIDV Nghe An branch, Cua Dong General Hospital, Hoan My Vinh Hospital, Tri Duong Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, Dong Luc Joint Stock Company, Biscafun Confectionery Factory, Nghe An Power Transmission Company, and other venue sponsors…

Prior to the opening ceremony, a men's doubles pro match took place right on the center court, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere. With thorough preparation, increasingly professional organization, and a large number of athletes, the 2nd NTV - Bia Sao Vang Pickleball Cup 2026 is expected to deliver many exciting matches, contributing to the further development of the pickleball movement in Nghe An and the surrounding areas.

The tournament will take place from April 17th to 19th.