Opportunity for Thailand to "take revenge"
After the successful 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the Vietnamese delegation topped the overall rankings for the first time when not being the host (136 gold medals, compared to Thailand with 108 gold medals and Indonesia with 87 gold medals). Entering the 33rd SEA Games, host Thailand is determined to take advantage of home field to reclaim the top spot, while Vietnam aims to defend its achievements and countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, etc. are also trying their best to compete.
The preparations are heating up as all 11 countries are beefing up their teams, ready for a Games with 50 sports, 66 disciplines and 574 official medals (not including 12 medals from 3 demonstration sports). This means the medal race will be extremely fierce as the total number of gold medals is huge and each delegation is trying to win as many as possible.
With the advantage of hosting the 33rd SEA Games (held from December 9-20 in Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla), Thailand has openly set a goal of regaining the number 1 position on the medal tally. Thai sports officials have affirmed their determination to bring the Thai team back to the top of the region with every effort when hosting.
In fact, Thailand has always been the leading sports powerhouse in Southeast Asia, always in the top 3 of the medal tally at every SEA Games. However, in recent Games, due to the host countries taking turns taking advantage of the choice of competition, Thailand has lost the overall top position to other countries.
Therefore, many sources said that the 33rd SEA Games at home is an opportunity for Thailand to "take revenge" and affirm its position. The host country is expected to mobilize the largest force ever, with 1,807 athletes registered to compete, the largest number at the Games. Thailand also included in the competition program many sports that they are strong in or that other countries are not strong in, in order to maximize the number of gold medals that can be won.
In the race to the top, Thailand's biggest rival is Vietnam - the current SEA Games champion. The Vietnamese delegation has just gone through two consecutive SEA Games leading (at home in 2021 and in Cambodia in 2023) with advantages in many Olympic and martial arts events. Entering the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnam does not have the host advantage but is determined to maintain its top position. The official goal of Vietnamese sports is to be in the top 3 of the delegation, striving to be in the top 2.
Perform well the task of contributing to the overall achievement
On the afternoon of July 23 in Hanoi , Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet chaired a meeting to comprehensively review preparations for the 33rd SEA Games and the Asian Youth Games. The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Nguyen Hong Minh and representatives of the Vietnam Olympic Committee and specialized departments.
It is expected that Vietnam will send a strong force of more than 1,000 people to compete in 30 events/disciplines at the 33rd SEA Games. To prepare for the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnam Sports Administration has divided the events into groups to focus on investment. Along with that, training programs to improve athletes' expertise, physical strength and competitive mentality are being vigorously implemented. Key teams are heavily invested in all aspects, from expertise, logistics, nutrition, training equipment to medical care and injury recovery.
Director Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet requested that functional departments and divisions continue to carefully review the participating forces, avoiding the situation of sending athletes who are not capable of competing. The evaluation must be substantial, closely following the competition capacity and the ability to win medals. In addition to the elite group of athletes, the selection work must also take into account the next generation, creating conditions for young athletes to compete, accumulate international experience, and lay the foundation for future games.
Assessing that this is a challenging 33rd SEA Games, Director Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet emphasized the need to select the most elite and outstanding force for the Vietnamese Sports Delegation. Each member of the delegation, from athletes, coaches to officials and doctors, must perform well their assigned tasks and contribute effectively to the overall achievement.
THU SAM
Many unknowns
Along with Thailand and Vietnam, Indonesia is also a strong candidate in the medal race. At the 32nd SEA Games, Indonesia won 87 gold medals, finishing third overall. The sports delegation of the archipelago country is certainly not satisfied with that position and will strive to break away. Indonesia has strengths in many Olympic sports such as badminton, weightlifting, athletics... and especially traditional martial arts.
They will also send a large force, estimated at about 1,548 athletes to Thailand, the largest group of the Games. With such a strong team of athletes, Indonesia can aim to approach or surpass the 90 gold medal mark to compete for the top 2 position or even compete for the top spot.
Other countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore... although having difficulty competing for the championship, also have their own ambitions, contributing to making the medal competition more exciting. The Philippines plans to send a record-breaking delegation of about 1,500 - 1,600 athletes, the largest ever, to improve their performance (they won 58 gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games, ranking 5th). Malaysia has a new approach by not focusing on the number of gold medals, but on the total number of medals of all types to reduce pressure on athletes.
However, Malaysia still hopes to rise to the top if it explodes in its strengths such as athletics, cycling, bowling or skateboarding. Singapore with its strengths in swimming and table tennis, Cambodia with the advantage of maintaining some traditional martial arts (after breaking through to win 81 gold medals when hosting in 2023) will also play the role of "dark horse" to win medals. Clearly, the 33rd SEA Games will witness the fiercest medal race ever as most delegations increase their size and set high goals.
It is expected that 12,506 athletes will compete and all are eager to bring glory to the Fatherland. The competition for the overall top spot will likely be a three-way battle between Thailand - Vietnam - Indonesia, but variables from the remaining countries may affect the overall standings.
The 33rd SEA Games promises to be an exciting event as the medal competition among Southeast Asian countries is more intense than ever. With the advantage of hosting and determination to “claim the throne”, Thailand is considered the number one candidate for the overall top position, but Vietnam certainly will not easily give up its position and is preparing carefully.
This two-horse race may decide the top position, but we cannot underestimate the pursuit of Indonesia and the efforts of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore...
Each country has its own strengths and the host's "strategy" will greatly affect the balance of medals. The Vietnamese sports delegation entered the regional playground with both advantages and challenges, but with determination and careful preparation, fans believe that Vietnam will continue to reap success, maintaining its flag and colors on the gold medal list of the 33rd SEA Games.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/cuoc-dua-giua-cac-cuong-quoc-dong-nam-a-156002.html
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