Nagoya, 22 Sep 2026 – Vietnam suffered a major disappointment in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at ASIAD 2026 on September 22 after Phi Thanh Thao and Nguyen Tam Quang lost their place in the final due to a competition clothing violation despite initially finishing fourth in qualification.
The Vietnamese shooting pair produced an impressive performance in the morning qualification round, recording a combined score of 631.7 points from 60 shots. The result placed Thanh Thao and Tam Quang fourth in the standings, which was enough to secure a place in the final under the competition format. However, their qualification result was subsequently invalidated after an equipment inspection found that their shooting clothing failed to meet the required stiffness standards, ending Vietnam’s hopes of competing for a medal in the event.
Vietnam shooting head coach Tran Quoc Cuong explained that the violation involved only a very small difference in the stiffness measurement. According to the coach, the Vietnamese athletes’ equipment had previously passed inspection without any issues. He also said equipment checks had become particularly strict amid close scrutiny from competing teams. Vietnam’s coaching staff lodged an official protest and paid the required US$100 appeal fee, but the appeal was rejected following a review, leaving the original decision unchanged.
The incident came amid stricter equipment regulations introduced by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) from 2026. Rifle shooting clothing is subject to specific requirements governing both stiffness and thickness, with the regulations designed to prevent what is sometimes described as “technical doping” — equipment providing excessive physical support that could help stabilize an athlete’s shooting position and create an unfair competitive advantage.
Under the regulations, rifle shooting clothing must reach a minimum deflection measurement of 3.0 mm when tested with specialized equipment. A measurement below that threshold indicates that the material is considered too stiff and therefore does not comply with competition requirements.
The ISSF also imposes limits on the thickness of rifle jackets and trousers. Each individual layer may be no thicker than 2.5 mm, while the total thickness is limited to 5 mm. Equipment can be inspected both before and after competition to ensure athletes remain compliant throughout the event.
For Thanh Thao and Tam Quang, the disqualification was particularly painful given their performance on the range. Their 631.7-point qualification score had put them firmly in contention for a medal before the post-competition equipment issue wiped out the result and cost Vietnam a place in the ASIAD 2026 final.
VSN/RPT
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