SEA Games medals mask Vietnam’s deeper worries about Asian Games, Olympics

The contrast was stark with Thailand, which delivered one of the clearest statements of intent.

Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson ran 100 meters in 9.94 seconds in the heats and 9.99 in the final to complete a sprint treble.

The times made him the first Southeast Asian athlete to break the 10-second barrier, a milestone confirmed by World Athletics and highlighted by the International Olympic Committee.

In weightlifting, Thailand’s Theerapong Silachai added to that message by clean-and-jerking 173 kg, setting a world record.

Vietnam produced far fewer performances that translated cleanly to continental or global benchmarks.

Shooter Trinh Thu Vinh stood out as the clearest Olympic-level bright spot, winning four gold medals after reaching two finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a sign of growing consistency in a sport known for volatility.

In athletics, Vietnam collected 12 gold medals but delivered limited Asian-level marks, with high jumper Bui Thi Kim Anh’s 1.86-meter clearance the lone result comparable to an Asian Games gold medal.

Swimming also disappointed, as established stars Nguyen Huy Hoang, Nguyen Hung Nguyen, and Tran Thanh Bao failed to match their previous standards.

Weightlifting, once among Vietnam’s strongest Olympic sports, struggled most.

After regularly finishing among the top two nations at past SEA Games editions, Vietnamese lifters fell short of gold in most events, with their only title coming from the men’s over-94 kg category, a weight class offering little prospect at Asian or global level.

In rowing and canoeing combined, Vietnam won six gold medals, down sharply from 16 at the 2023 SEA Games, while cycling produced no golds at all, marking setbacks in two sports that have previously sent athletes to the Olympics.

Vietnam’s medal tally met expectations, but regional rivals are increasingly focused on world-class milestones.

Its SEA Games showing has again raised questions about whether regional success is translating into progress toward the Asian Games and the Olympics, or masking a widening gap.