Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s delegation experienced a night of contrasting emotions at the 33rd SEA Games on December 19, highlighted by gold medals in esports and fencing, while wrestling emerged as one of the country’s most successful sports at the Games, far exceeding expectations.
Vietnam claimed two gold medals on the day, with the men’s Arena of Valor (AOV) team producing one of the most memorable victories of the tournament. The Vietnamese players defeated regional rivals Thailand 3–1 in the final to secure the gold medal, marking a major milestone for Vietnam’s rapidly growing esports programme and showcasing composure under intense pressure on a big stage.
Fencing continued to be a reliable medal source for Vietnam. The men’s sabre team, consisting of Nguyen Van Quyet, Nguyen Xuan Loi, Le Van Bang and Phan Anh Duong, dominated Malaysia 45–27 in the team final to win gold.
While esports and fencing delivered joy, boxing brought disappointment. In the men’s 57kg final, Nguyen Van Duong had to settle for silver after suffering a serious eye injury early in the third round against a Thai opponent. Vietnam also claimed a silver medal in the women’s 70kg category, reflecting strong effort but tough conditions when facing host-nation athletes.
Wrestling, however, stood out as one of Vietnam’s biggest success stories at SEA Games 33. The national wrestling team finished the Games with an outstanding haul of ten gold and two silver medals, nearly double the original target of five to six golds. The women’s freestyle team led the charge with a clean sweep of four gold medals in one competition day, while the men’s freestyle squad added three more golds despite an injury setback in the 86kg category.
Officials attributed wrestling’s remarkable success to long-term preparation, effective tactical planning and a balanced combination of experienced athletes and promising young talents, firmly establishing the sport as one of Vietnam’s key medal contributors at the regional level./.
