Bangkok, 10 December 2025 – After a full day of near misses, the Vietnamese taekwondo team finally secured its much-awaited first SEA Games 33 gold medal in the mixed creative poomsae event, defeating host Thailand in a dramatic finish.
The Vietnamese taekwondo delegation experienced a roller-coaster of emotions on 10 December, waiting until the final event of the day to claim the gold medal they had been striving for. The breakthrough came in the mixed creative poomsae team category, where Vietnam delivered a powerful performance to earn 8.060 points, surpassing Thailand’s 7.940. The Philippines and Myanmar finished third and fourth, respectively.
Throughout the day, Vietnam had high expectations in the individual and pair poomsae events but repeatedly fell short of the top podium. The mixed pair performance particularly left the team heartbroken, as the athletes came agonisingly close to gold before settling for silver. Meanwhile, the women’s team secured a bronze medal in their division.
Despite the early setbacks, the Vietnamese athletes regrouped and saved their best for last. Their creative poomsae routine — combining technical precision, artistic expression and synchronised acrobatic elements — impressed the judges and lit up the venue with energy. As the final score was announced, the entire taekwondo delegation erupted in joy. Athletes hugged each other, many unable to hold back tears after the emotional weight of a long and difficult competition day.
Team leader Nguyen Thu Trang expressed deep pride: “We have waited for this moment. This gold medal reflects the effort of the entire team. Congratulations to all our athletes.”
The gold-winning lineup consisted of Le Tran Kim Uyen, Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Tran Dang Khoa, Tran Ho Duy, Nguyen Thi Y Binh and Nguyen Phan Khanh Han — a group that perfectly combined youth, experience and creativity to deliver Vietnam’s first taekwondo gold at SEA Games 33.
The victory not only fulfilled the team’s target for the day but also lifted spirits for the remaining competitions. It marked a symbolic breakthrough, proving once again that Vietnam remains a formidable force in Southeast Asian poomsae.
Thanh Trang
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