SEA Games 2025: Vietnamese pencak silat athlete hospitalized, loses semifinal in controversial decision

Vietnam’s Nguyen Minh Triet was struck in the neck by Malaysia’s Muhammad Izzu during the men’s 65kg bout, a move typically considered illegal under pencak silat rules.

The Vietnamese competitor collapsed to the mat and required immediate medical attention.

After the incident, Vietnam’s coaching staff lodged a formal protest, arguing the strike should have resulted in a penalty.

However, the referees upheld their ruling, stating Izzu had not violated the rules.

Triet, who was unable to continue, was subsequently hospitalized.

Earlier, in the men’s 60kg category, Vietnam’s Vu Van Kien also lost a semifinal match after being penalized for an illegal strike.

The decision followed a similar pattern of controversial rulings in pencak silat events at the SEA Games.

The sport’s complex rules and frequent officiating disputes have led to ongoing tensions during the competition.

On Monday, Malaysian coaches also staged a protest over a refereeing decision, causing a disturbance at the venue.

The SEA Games run from December 9 to December 20 in Thailand and feature athletes from 11 countries.

Vietnam has sent 1,165 delegation members and is targeting between 80 and 100 gold medals.

As of 4:30 pm Tuesday, Vietnam was third in the medal standings with 41 golds, 47 silvers and 70 bronzes.

Host Thailand leads the medal table with 145 golds, 88 silvers and 61 bronzes, while Indonesia held second place with 54 gold, 65 silver, and 64 bronze medals.