Shooting beauty Phi Thanh Thao loses ASIAD 2026 final spot due to uniform violation: “Oh my god”

On the morning of September 22, 2026, at the shooting venue of ASIAD 2026, Phi Thanh Thao and Nguyen Tam Quang finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification with 631.7 points. They seemed to have earned a place in the final. But then referees inspected their uniforms and ruled that the Vietnam shooting team's attire did not meet standards. Their result was annulled, and Japan's shooting team took the final spot. Someone in the technical area shouted: “Oh my god”. In shooting sport, uniforms are not just equipment. They support the body, maintain balance, and reduce vibration during shooting. International rules are extremely strict about fabric thickness, stiffness, sleeve length, seams, zippers, and the overall design. Even a small deviation can cause a technical disqualification. The problem here is that the inspection happened after the qualification result had been announced. That turned a successful day for Phi Thanh Thao and Nguyen Tam Quang into a painful memory. Phi Thanh Thao, born in 2026, is a professional military athlete with the rank of Senior Lieutenant. At SEA Games 31 in 2026, at just 18 years old, she won gold in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions and silver in the women's 10m air rifle. She has continued to win medals at Southeast Asian shooting championships. Known as the “shooting beauty”, she is also a lively Gen Z girl outside the range. She is currently dating Pham Ly Duc, the captain of Vietnam's U23 team at ASIAD 2026. This incident is not about lack of talent. It is about preparation and attention to detail. The result cannot be reversed. Japan will compete in the final. But Vietnam's young shooters have a long future ahead. The lesson learned today will help them grow stronger. In top-level sport, champions control every detail, even the smallest ones. This time, the bullet went in the right direction, but the uniform canceled everything. Still, their journey is not over.