The outfit resembling a sports bra that Tiến Linh wore is actually a tracking device that supports training and competition.
After scoring a crucial goal in the 111th minute, leading Vietnam to victory over Malaysia, Tiến Linh celebrated by removing his shirt. The Bình Dương player revealed a special outfit worn underneath. On social media, many people speculated that Tiến Linh was wearing a “sports bra” or “crop top.”
However, this is a special technology device that aids in the training and competition of athletes. Since 2019, Vietnamese national team players have begun using this tight-fitting black shirt, which is integrated with numerous modern sensors. While this device may be new to those less familiar with sports, it has been used by international athletes for a long time.
Catapult Sports’ tracking shirt helps monitor various player metrics. (Photo: Thuận Thắng).
The shirts worn by Vietnamese players are provided by Catapult Sports, featuring a device known as the Electronic Performance and Tracking System (EPTS), which is housed in a small pocket containing GPS and various other sensors, such as accelerometers and heart rate monitors.
The EPTS’s mission is to track the total distance traveled on the field, the players’ speed, and their heart rate status. The device then transmits this information to an external tracking unit to compile statistics.
This data assists coaching staff in optimizing performance, preparing well for matches by managing training loads, and monitoring player development. Additionally, this device helps reduce injury risks by managing the intensity of players’ training.
The Messi and Neymar duo when they were at Barcelona. In this image, Messi is also wearing a health monitoring shirt from Statsports. (Photo: Reuters).
Besides the Vietnam national team, Catapult reports that its solutions are being used by many top clubs such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Porto. As products designed for professional athletes, Catapult’s items are not listed for sale. Some e-commerce sites offer versions of the shirts without the sensors and GPS units from Catapult for about 60 euros.
In addition to Catapult, Sportable is another brand providing similar solutions for rugby. Their shirt, called “Impact Wearable”, can provide information about the force of throws and the body’s response during actions. This company has also developed sensors that attach to the game ball, recording speed, spin force, and providing real-time data to recording devices.
