Rare case: Cambodian athlete withdraws from competition but still reaches SEA Games final.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Cambodian fighter Vann Borey was still included in the final of the 62-67kg taekwondo category despite having returned home. This allowed the Thai fighter to automatically be awarded the gold medal.

One of the strangest stories recently unfolded in the 62-67kg weight category of taekwondo. Notably, this weight category only had three fighters registered to compete: Chareewan Piyachutrutai (Thailand), Vann Borey (Cambodia), and Key Thwe Mon Lin (Myanmar).

According to the draw results, Cambodian fighter Vann Borey secured a place in the final. Meanwhile, Chareewan Piyachutrutai and Key Thwe Mon Lin will face each other in the semi-finals.

Thai boxer wins SEA Games gold medal without needing to compete in the final (Photo: Thairath).

In the semi-final, Chareewan Piyachutrutai easily defeated the Myanmar fighter 2-0. With fighter Vann Borey having already returned home with the Cambodian sports delegation, the Thai athlete automatically won the gold medal.

Thai newspapers commented that this was the "easiest gold medal in SEA Games history." This story went viral on social media and in Southeast Asian newspapers. It all stemmed from a somewhat bizarre regulation imposed by host country Thailand.

According to the regulations, Thailand is allowed to participate in all 14 weight categories in sparring, while other countries can only select a maximum of 10 events (5 men, 5 women). This resulted in only three people registering for the 62-67kg weight category.

The fact that fighter Vann Borey still qualified for the final despite no longer being in Thailand, or that fighter Chareewan Piyachutrutai won the gold medal after only one match, continues to spark controversy regarding the professionalism of the SEA Games.

Over the years, fans have repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the "host privilege" and regulations "unique to the SEA Games." The endless controversies and ridiculous stories may not stop unless the SEA Games move towards a more professional approach.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hy-huu-vdv-campuchia-rut-khoi-giai-van-vao-chung-ket-sea-games-20251212181354790.htm