"The Little Devil" Dao Hong Son: Showing resilience and pushing boundaries at the SEA Games 33

TPO - Competing in a weight class that wasn't his forte, jujitsu fighter Dao Hong Son still made his mark at the 33rd SEA Games (Thailand) with his tenacious fighting spirit and a bronze medal.

Vietnamese jujitsu still has much potential to develop and assert its position in the regional arena (photo by Ngoc Tu).

Dao Hong Son's SEA Games 33 campaign began in an unfamiliar way. The two-time SEA Games champion and current world number one in the 56 kg category was forced to enter the regional arena starting in the 62 kg weight class – a weight class that is not his forte.

When the organizers removed the 56 kg weight class from the competition, "Little Devil" Hong Son understood that this tournament would be a challenging journey. He had to face opponents with superior physiques and rules that limited his strengths.

In the first match, Dao Hong Son faced a Thai fighter who possessed a very tall stature and long reach. Despite his agility and speed, the Vietnamese representative was unable to get close enough to deliver decisive blows, leading to a regrettable defeat.

Losing his opening match forced Hong Son to compete in the bronze medal bracket, where he faced his teammate Le Kien. In the decisive match, the 1997-born fighter showed strength, utilizing his signature wrestling techniques to lock down his opponent, securing the victory and bringing home his first bronze medal at the 33rd SEA Games.

At the end of the day's competition, his right eyelid was swollen and bruised after a punch from his Thai opponent, but Son remained relaxed. He admitted that his only way to win in this weight class was to fight by landing a full ippon, meaning he had to deliver all three blows: punch, grapple, and pin before his opponent could gain the upper hand.

Not only did he compete in the aforementioned events, but Dao Hong Son also moved on to the 62 kg ne-waza category, a more challenging arena with many competitors who had won world medals. He set goals for each match, viewing it as both an opportunity to compete for medals and an important chance to gain experience in a new weight class.

Vietnamese martial artists always command respect from their opponents for their courage and unwavering fighting spirit (photo by Ngoc Tu).

At the 33rd SEA Games, Dao Hong Son's wife also traveled to Thailand to cheer him on, becoming a great source of motivation for her husband during his challenging journey. Although he couldn't win the familiar gold medal, the bronze medal in a weight category that wasn't his specialty still affirmed the tenacious fighting spirit of "The Little Devil".

Dao Hong Son was born and raised in Trieu Khuc village ( Hanoi ). He showed early talent at the age of 11, winning third place in the village wrestling competition. After being selected for the Hanoi wrestling team, he was transferred to judo to develop modern fighting techniques, and then became involved with jujitsu - the sport that brought his name to the international stage.

Hong Son's strengths lie in his speed, agility, and tricky moves that make him unpredictable for his opponents. These qualities helped him win gold medals at the 31st and 32nd SEA Games, the 2022 World Championships, and the 2025 Asian and World Championships in the 56 kg category. At the 2025 Southeast Asian Youth Championships, he even dominated all three events in his preferred weight class.

Strong on the training ground, but Dao Hong Son is approachable and well-liked in real life (photo by Minh Dan).

Beyond the wrestling mat, Dao Hong Son is also loved for his approachable personality. He often shares stories about village wrestling festivals – a source of pride for his hometown – and even helped bring Belarusian wrestler Zakhar Dzmitrychenka to Vietnam for cultural exchange, creating matches that attracted a large community.

The 33rd SEA Games may not have been the perfect destination, but it marked a milestone showcasing the courage and perseverance of Dao Hong Son – a young, aspiring symbol of Vietnamese jujitsu.

Watch SEA Games 33, stand alongside the Vietnamese Sports Delegation, in its entirety onFPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/quy-lun-dao-hong-son-ban-linh-vuot-gioi-han-o-sea-games-33-post1803688.tpo