Bangkok, 17 December 2025 – Vietnam’s Muay Thai team was left outraged at SEA Games 33 after young fighter Hoang Khanh Mai was judged to be on the wrong end of controversial refereeing in her women’s 45 kg semifinal against the Philippines, prompting head coach Co Tan Anh Linh to pull his athlete out of the bout in protest.
The incident occurred on December 16 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Competing in the women’s 45 kg Muay Thai semifinal, Hoang Khanh Mai of Vietnam dominated much of the contest, landing clean and effective strikes and even knocking her Philippine opponent, Islay Erika Bomogao, down to the canvas during the fight. Despite this clear superiority, the judges awarded both completed rounds to the Philippine fighter.
Furious with the scoring, Vietnam’s head coach Co Tan Anh Linh reacted strongly. He threw a water bottle forcefully onto the ring, shouted in protest, and then instructed his athlete to withdraw from the match. Although the referee repeatedly attempted to call Khanh Mai back to continue the bout, the Vietnamese camp refused. As a result, Bomogao was awarded the victory and advanced to the final, where she will face Thailand’s Noon-Eiad Arissara.
Following her coach’s instruction, Hoang Khanh Mai bowed respectfully to the spectators before leaving the ring. Video footage from the venue showed Philippine fans appearing shocked by the Vietnamese team’s decision, before quickly celebrating Bomogao’s passage to the final.
The outcome was particularly painful for Vietnam, as Hoang Khanh Mai is considered one of the team’s key gold-medal hopes. The 19-year-old fighter is the reigning Asian champion in 2025 and also claimed the U23 world championship title in the women’s 45 kg category earlier this year.
This was not an isolated case of controversy involving Vietnamese fighters at SEA Games 33. Earlier in the tournament, MMA fighter Pham Van Nam broke down in tears after what was widely viewed as biased officiating in his semifinal loss to a Thai opponent in the under-56 kg division. Similarly, Vu Van Kien was judged to have lost his pencak silat men’s 60 kg semifinal despite holding a clear advantage over Thailand’s Janjaroen Tinnapat.
Muay Thai competition at SEA Games 33 runs from December 13 to 19, featuring 18 medal events, including 10 men’s weight categories (45–75 kg), six women’s weight categories (45–60 kg), and two demonstration events for men and women. Each country is allowed to register one athlete per event.
Prior to SEA Games 33, Vietnam’s Muay Thai team had enjoyed outstanding success, winning 14 gold medals at the 2025 Asian Muay Thai Championships and four gold medals at the World Championships held in Turkey. Vietnam last won Muay Thai gold medals at the SEA Games during SEA Games 31 in 2022, with four titles secured by Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat, Bui Yen Ly, Bang Thi Mai, and Nguyen Thi Phuong Hau.
Despite the controversy, Muay Thai remains a major medal hope for Vietnam at SEA Games 33. On the afternoon of December 17, six Vietnamese fighters are scheduled to compete in the finals: Nguyen Thi Chieu (women’s 57 kg), Pham Ngoc Man (men’s 63.5 kg), Bang Quang Thang (men’s 71 kg), Nguyen Thanh Tung (men’s 75 kg), Nguyen Thi Phuong Hau (women’s 60 kg), and Duong Duc Bao (men’s 48 kg). All six will face Thai opponents in the gold-medal bouts.
Thai Ha
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