SEA Games 33: Vietnam's jet ski team is worried because of... broken glass

For the first time in history, the Vietnamese Jet Ski team is trying their best to make their mark.

Vietnam Jet Ski aims to win medals at SEA Games 33 - Photo: Jet Ski Vietnam

On the morning of December 9, the Vietnamese Jet Ski team arrived at Jomtien beach (Pattaya, Thailand) to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games.

However, the journey of "bringing the bell to strike foreign lands" of Vietnamese racers unexpectedly encountered difficult logistical problems right before the race day.

Speaking live from Thailand, a member of the coaching staff said the team is racing against time to fix equipment problems. Specifically, during the sprint training session, two of the athletes' specialized goggles were damaged.

It is worth mentioning that this is a type of international standard competition glasses that has no distributor in Vietnam.

"In Vietnam, there are brands but we don't have this type of glasses for competition. We are forced to buy them directly in Thailand according to the standards of the organizing committee. Tonight, the athletes must try on the glasses immediately. If they don't fit or don't ensure vision, we have to find a way to change them. It's very urgent," said a representative of the Vietnam water motorbike team.

Vietnam's jet ski team representative holding the newly purchased glasses - Photo: THANH DINH

Besides the pressure on equipment, physical fitness is also a big problem. To reach the competition venue in Pattaya, the whole team had to go through a long journey, from plane to road, making the members quite tired.

The Vietnamese jet ski team participated in the 33rd SEA Games as a socialized sport (not funded by the state budget). Although receiving technical support and equipment from the Vietnam Sports Motor Boat Federation and sponsor Kawasaki Long Bien, the athletes still had to cover part of the expenses themselves to pursue their passion.

Vietnam's biggest rival at this tournament is host Thailand - the "powerhouse" of jet skiing that has reached world class .

Despite the disadvantages of the field, equipment problems and lack of international competition experience, the racers are still determined to compete with all their might, hoping to create a surprise with the goal of winning a medal in the first time this sport "enters" the SEA Games arena.

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THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sea-games-33-tuyen-mo-to-nuoc-viet-nam-lo-sot-vo-vi-hong-kinh-20251209150446572.htm