The older the ginger, the spicier it is.

The Vietnamese sports delegation participating in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand boasts a formidable force of 865 athletes, including many veteran athletes who promise to maintain their high performance and shine.

"THE Tough Old Man" at 56 Years Old

Chess player Hoang Nam Thang (born November 12, 1969) is recognized as the oldest athlete in the Vietnamese sports delegation participating in the 33rd SEA Games. He competed in the men's team Maruk rapid chess and the men's team ASEAN rapid chess events. The veteran player stated: "Thai Maruk chess is similar to Cambodian Ouk Chaktrang chess, which I participated in at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023. ASEAN chess also has its foundation in chess, an intellectual sport I've been involved in for the past 45 years, so I didn't encounter many difficulties."

The 56-year-old chess player said that in chess, age doesn't significantly affect skill, so athletes in this sport have much longer careers than in many other sports. At the 32nd SEA Games, chess player Hoang Nam Thang won a bronze medal in the individual Ouk Chaktrang chess event. Besides competing in unusual events like Ouk Chaktrang, Maruk chess, and ASEAN chess, this athlete also works as a chess and Go coach in Da Nang .

Chess player Hoang Nam Thang (left) competes in the 33rd SEA Games at the age of 56.

PHOTO: THU BON

The Vietnamese chess team participating in the 33rd SEA Games also includes another veteran, Dao Thien Hai. The 47-year-old player will compete in four events: Maruk chess and ASEAN chess. Dao Thien Hai is Vietnam's first International Grandmaster in chess, having achieved many successes in international tournaments. Recently, he has focused on chess coaching and researching variations of the game such as Maruk chess, ASEAN chess, and Ouk Chaktrang.

" GIVE IT YOUR ALL" BEFORE RETIRING FROM YOUR CAREER

Some veteran Vietnamese athletes view the 33rd SEA Games as a milestone to retire from their peak careers, so they are determined to achieve the highest possible results as a gift to their fans. At the age of 32, female wushu fighter Duong Thuy Vi has already tasted the fruits of her career, having won the World Championships (2013), the Asian Games (2014), and the SEA Games (6 gold medals).

While her peers retired one after another, Thuy Vi remained dedicated to wushu. There were times when injuries and exhausting training made the Hanoi-based martial artist consider quitting, but her passion for wushu has stayed with her until now. "I decided to end my peak career after the SEA Games 33, so I will dedicate myself to giving my best as a gift to myself, my family, and my fans," the Vietnamese wushu queen shared.

Eighteen years ago at the 24th SEA Games (2007) in Thailand, fencer Nguyen Tien Nhat made his debut, contributing to Vietnam's silver medal in the team event. This served as a stepping stone for the fencer from Ho Chi Minh City to develop and affirm his position as the number one fencer in Southeast Asia in the foil event. Full of emotion in his return to the SEA Games in Thailand at the age of 35, Tien Nhat is expected to leverage his experience and be a source of moral support for his teammates as they aim to defend their title.

33-year-old badminton player Vu Thi Trang previously participated in the 24th SEA Games, and this return will be her final SEA Games appearance. Badminton at the SEA Games is like a mini-world championship, with the participation of top players from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, making the competition very fierce. Before the 33rd SEA Games, she won the women's singles title at the Vietnam International Series 2025 badminton tournament. From that, she promises to perform brilliantly and achieve good results at the upcoming SEA Games.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gung-cang-gia-cang-cay-185251201224400939.htm