Para Natuh Pickleball tournament promotes inclusive sport in Vietnam
The tournament aims to convey the message “Inclusion – Respect – Equality – For Humanity.” It will also offer Vietnamese para pickleball athletes an opportunity to connect with the Paralympic network spanning 206 countries.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Para Natuh Pickleball Tournament, scheduled for mid-March 2026 in Hanoi, will mark the first time athletes with disabilities team up in doubles with able-bodied partners in this sport.
Under the theme “Inclusive sport”, the tournament will gather 64 athletes with disabilities and 64 able-bodied participants. The lineup will include celebrities, key opinion leaders and influential figures from across the country.
Athletes with disabilities will be paired with non-disabled partners to affirm the spirit of integration and solidarity in society. Photo: FB
The tournament aims to convey the message “Inclusion – Respect – Equality – For Humanity.” It will also offer Vietnamese para pickleball athletes an opportunity to connect with the Paralympic network spanning 206 countries.
According to the organizers, the Vietnam Paralympic Committee and Natuh Investment JSC, the pairing of athletes with disabilities and able-bodied athletes sets this tournament apart.
Tran Duc Tho, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, said the event marks an important step toward inclusion and helps connect people with disabilities in Vietnam to the global sports movement.
He said Vietnam has around seven million people with disabilities who aspire to live fully and integrate into the community.
“Sports serve as a powerful bridge that connects people, spreads positive energy, opens opportunities and creates a healthy environment for development, while removing barriers for people with disabilities,” Tho said.
“We want to show that people with disabilities can serve as role models for the community through courage, determination, inspiration and a commitment to equality.”
The tournament will open on March 16, 2026, and organizers are accelerating preparations for the Para Natuh Pickleball Tournament.
According to the organizing committee, a 72-day communication campaign will accompany the event. It will feature 64 stories of resilience from para athletes and 64 messages from accompanying artists and public figures.
Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, General Director of Natuh Investment JSC, said the community of people with disabilities represents a strong source of inspiration and motivation for promoting Vietnam’s spirit of resilience and solidarity.
She said stories of perseverance from athletes with disabilities will help the public understand that the Para Natuh Pickleball series goes beyond a sports competition and carries a clear message: “When people stay determined and optimistic, they can overcome every limitation.”
Representatives of organizing board and athletes participating to the tournament. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times
To prepare for the tournament, the Vietnam Paralympic Committee and Natuh will provide training for coaches, athletes and referees. They will also develop a nationwide curriculum covering Paralympic techniques, athlete classification and performance evaluation.
The organizers will provide the Natuh App free of charge to store videos and images of athletes during training and competition. The platform will support athletes, coaches and referees in evaluation and individual development planning.
Both parties will also organize a series of regular Para Natuh Pickleball tournaments.
“The partnership between the Vietnam Paralympic Committee and Natuh will spread the spirit of inclusive sports nationwide, encourage greater participation by people with disabilities and strengthen connections with the international Paralympic community,” Tho said.
