Vo Xuan Hai, a new hope for boxing.

(Baonghean) - Boxing is one of the five Olympic standard sports, therefore the plan to train athletes to reach Olympic-level standards is of great interest. To achieve that goal, it is necessary to select outstanding athletes. And the young athlete Vo Xuan Hai is a promising prospect after being recruited into the Central Sports Training Center 3 in Da Nang after only two years of familiarizing himself with boxing.

Vo Xuan Hai (top row, second from the left) with coach Bui Duy Vinh and the Nghe An Boxing team.

In early July 2014, Vo Xuan Hai, born in 2000, was called up to the national youth boxing team. Remarkably, Hai had only been practicing martial arts for less than two years at the Nghe An Sports Center. However, with his intelligent fighting style and early display of exceptional qualities in the demanding sport of boxing, Hai was highly regarded by experts and considered a key athlete to be trained to reach Olympic standards.

After two years of training with the Nghe An Boxing team, Hai won the national youth boxing championship gold medal for two consecutive years. Mr. Bui Duy Vinh, head coach of the Nghe An Boxing team, said: “From the beginning, I noticed that Hai had superior qualities compared to other athletes. Although Hai is small and lightweight for his age, he possesses an intelligent fighting style, with clever counter-attacks and scoring punches, and especially a very mature demeanor on the mat that few athletes have. In his very first season competing in the youth tournament, Hai won a gold medal and was highly regarded by experts for selection into the national youth team. Therefore, his inclusion in the list of athletes receiving special care to meet Olympic standards is well-deserved.”

Vo Xuan Hai is the youngest of four siblings in a family facing difficult circumstances. His older brother, Vo Xuan Thanh, is a highly accomplished boxer. Hai's passion for martial arts stemmed from his brother. Accompanying his brother to national competitions, witnessing exciting and intense matches, and experiencing the joy of winning medals fueled his dream of becoming a professional boxer. With his parents' support, Hai applied to the traditional martial arts and boxing program at the Nghe An Sports Center and was quickly accepted into the training program for young athletes. Hai said: “At home, my brother and I train together. It was through these training sessions with my brother that I absorbed the essence of martial arts, far beyond my initial thoughts of simply improving my health and easing the financial burden on my parents.” Hai's confidence and natural talent were evident early on in the ring, with fights that even leading boxing experts described as "outstanding for his age." This was further proven in the 2014 National Youth Boxing Championship held last June, where Hai defeated his opponent with a perfect score.

For a 14-year-old, still carefree and pampered by their families, Hai's 14th birthday marked a major turning point in his life. It was also the first time he had to leave his family and live in Da Nang. Consequently, his schooling was disrupted by the change of school and class. The leaders of the Nghe An Sports Center expressed their concern: “For a young athlete to leave home so early is difficult, so we are very worried and are trying our best to monitor and guide Hai so that he develops in the right direction. In Nghe An, there are many cases of athletes failing due to a lack of proper care. Therefore, the task of monitoring and educating Xuan Hai to develop both character and talent is very important to us.”

It's too early to judge an athlete's talent. Of course, success requires sacrifice and dedication through arduous training. And Hai, a talented boxer, is just a budding flower; he needs care, nurturing, guidance, and shaping to become a fragrant blossom that spreads its beauty to the world.

Ngoc Minh