Without competing, Thailand is sure to win two medals at SEA Games 33

(Dan Tri) - The two Thai men's and women's tennis teams have secured medals at the 33rd SEA Games even though they have not yet entered the field to compete.

At the draw for the SEA Games 33 team tennis event held on December 9, 2025 at the National Tennis Development Center - Tennis Association of Thailand (Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi province), both Thai men's and women's tennis teams were exempted from the quarter-finals of the team event and advanced straight to the semi-finals. That helped host Thailand secure two SEA Games medals.

Thailand tennis team is sure to win the 33rd SEA Games medal (Photo: Thairath).

The draw ceremony was chaired by Mr. Thaitanu Wannasuk, Secretary General of the Tennis Association of Thailand and Head of the 33rd SEA Games Tennis Executive Committee. In charge of the draw was Ms. Manpreet Kanthari, Supervisor of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF).

Also attending the ceremony were Mr. Puneet Gupta and Mr. Amorn Duangpinkham, two referee supervisors of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), along with representatives of the teams including team managers, head coaches and assistant coaches from 7 countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and host Thailand.

According to the draw results for the men's team event (8 teams), the Thai team, the defending champion of the 2021 and 2023 SEA Games, is ranked in the upper bracket and holds the No. 1 seed position. Thanks to that, the Thai men's team is exempted from the first round, directly waiting for the opponent in the semi-finals.

Thailand will face the winner of the match between Malaysia (seed number 3) and Laos. In the lower bracket, Indonesia (seed number 2) will face Vietnam, while the Philippines will face Singapore (seed number 4) in the quarter-finals.

In the women's team event (8 teams), the Thai women's team is also seeded No. 1 and is in the upper bracket. Thailand is also exempted from the quarter-finals, becoming the second team from the host country to make it to the semi-finals.

In the round of 4, Thailand will wait for the winner of the match between the Philippines (seed number 4) and Vietnam. In the lower bracket, Indonesia (seed number 2) will face Laos, while Singapore will face Malaysia (seed number 3).

Mr. Wichest Theepakorn, Vice President of the Tennis Association of Thailand and Head of the 33rd SEA Games tennis delegation, said that the men's and women's teams were both seeded No. 1 due to the outstanding international rankings of Thai tennis players.

He affirmed: “Thanks to being exempted from the quarter-finals, both the men's and women's teams are sure to win the bronze medal. The whole team is well prepared and will compete with the highest determination.”

The women's team coach, Patcharapol Kamsaman, shared that the team will hold a technical meeting to plan for the semi-finals: "We have won the bronze medal, which is a great source of motivation for the whole team. Physical and tactical preparation will be given maximum attention."

Meanwhile, the coach of the Thai men's tennis team, Thanakorn Srichaphan, said that the whole team is ready: "We will meet the winner between Laos and Malaysia. The players are all in good condition and we hope that Thailand will show their best performance in the semi-finals."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/chua-thi-dau-thai-lan-cam-chac-hai-huy-chuong-sea-games-33-20251209192036025.htm