Recognizing the growing demand for televised sports, VTV began recording and broadcasting various sporting events, not just football, as early as 1996–1997. Among the memorable highlights was the 1997 national table tennis final between Vu Manh Cuong and Le Huy, which was filmed and later broadcast nationwide. For the athletes, it was an unforgettable milestone.
“In the past, appearing on television was a rare privilege for me. After finishing the match and returning to Hai Duong, I was able to watch the game's broadcast on VTV. Only then could I calmly reflect on my performance, acknowledging my strengths and weaknesses. Even though I already knew the score, Istill felt a sense of suspense. At that time, I had a videotape, so I recorded the match. Whenever I had free time, I would watch it again; it was almost like a treasured possession to me”, recalled former athlete Vu Manh Cuong.
For players, being featured on television was both a new experience and a source of motivation or pressure. Former table tennis player Le Huy shared: “Thanks to television, not only spectators at the venue knew me, but viewers across the country did too. I even received many letters from fans, and I replied to them personally”.
The commentator for that historic match was journalist Phan Ngoc Tien, now Head of VTV’s Sports Department. Despite limited equipment and resources, the production team worked tirelessly to process the footage so that it could be broadcast the very next day, driven solely by passion and a commitment to serving the audience.
Starting with simple sports commentaries, Vietnam Television has developed into a broadcaster of live international-scale sporting events. These live telecasts have become a familiar staple on VTV’s channels. Beyond domestic competitions, VTV has boldly undertaken live broadcasts from overseas and organized prestigious tournaments, making significant contributions to the growth of Vietnamese sports and enhancing the profile of the national broadcaster.
