Martial artists compete during the CJ National Youth Taekwondo Championship 2025 at a local gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Courtesy of CJ Group
CJ Group is extending its 15-year commitment to Vietnamese sports by hosting a week of high-level taekwondo competitions in Ho Chi Minh City, the conglomerate said Wednesday.
The showcase kicks off with the "2026 CJ National Youth Taekwondo Championship," running Thursday through Monday, followed by the international "CJ Vietnam Open" Tuesday and Wednesday. The youth tournament, now in its sixth year, stands as Vietnam’s only national-level taekwondo championship title-sponsored by a foreign firm. This year’s edition brings together roughly 1,000 athletes from all 31 provinces and cities, along with 300 officials.
The second annual CJ Vietnam Open will draw competitors from emerging markets like India, Cambodia and Japan, serving as a key tuneup for September's Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and launching the ranking-point qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Both events will be livestreamed on FPT Play, Vietnam’s largest streaming platform.
CJ has officially sponsored Vietnam’s national team since 2012, funding overseas training camps and hiring a top Korean youth coach in 2017. The investment has yielded major dividends: Vietnam claimed nine medals, including two golds, at this year’s Asian Taekwondo Championships and aims to reach the podium in six weight classes at the upcoming Asian Games.
