World Rowing expands its coaching activities in Vietnam

The first Level 1 Coaching Course in Asia, using World Rowing’s new coach education syllabus, was run in Hanoi, Vietnam. The course was organised through a Technical Course for Coaches programme from Olympic Solidarity, and Vietnam Olympic Committee, with the full support of World Rowing, Vietnam Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing Federation and Hanoi Sports Administration.

Sixteen national coaches selected from provinces all over the country participated in the course. The programme was led by World Rowing Coaching Experts, Rosie Mayglothling, Chair of World Rowing’s Competitive Commission and Head of Coaching Education, and Chris Perry, Development Lead Expert for Asia.

In addition to technical and teaching modules, the course included safety, safeguarding, first-aid and anti-doping components with presentations by medical and anti-doping experts from the National Olympic Committee. The anti-doping session was delivered by Vu Trong Hai from the Vietnam Anti-Doping and Sport Medicine Centre, while the first aid session was delivered by Dr. Nguyen Van Phu, Director of the Vietnam Anti-Doping and Sport Medicine Centre and Former Deputy Director of Vietnam Sport Hospital.

Vietnam has made tremendous progress in developing its rowing programme over the past 20 years and some 400 rowers now participate in the sport, based in 24 of 63 provinces and regions in the country. The Vietnamese team has qualified crews for the past three Olympic Games and won medals at the Asian and Southeast Asian Games. The women’s team in particular has led the way in these achievements, and it was impressive to see a number of retired female athletes joining the coaching course as they further develop their careers in the sport.