SEA Games 33: Overwhelmed with joy as Vietnam's MMA team achieves a historic 'double' gold medal win.

On the afternoon of December 11th, Vietnamese MMA fighters made history with two gold medals in the sport's first appearance at the region's largest multi-sport event.

Quang Van Minh celebrates the first gold medal for the Vietnamese MMA team at the 33rd SEA Games. (Photo: Minh Giang)

The first gold medal for the Vietnamese MMA team went to fighter Quang Van Minh in the men's 65kg modern MMA category. With his powerful, fast fighting style and ability to control the match, he continuously pressured his opponent, Tan Yee Siang, forcing him into a defensive position. Despite his efforts to fight back, Tan Yee Siang could not turn the tide, and the well-deserved victory went to Quang Van Minh.

Less than an hour later, the second gold medal went to the Vietnamese MMA team thanks to the outstanding performance of fighter Tran Ngoc Luong in the men's 60kg modern category. The Lion Championship champion overwhelmed his opponent Alfiandi with precise strikes, combined with a series of relentless ground-and-pound attacks.

MMA fighter Tran Ngoc Luong won the second gold medal for the Vietnamese MMA team at the 33rd SEA Games. (Photo: Dung Phuong)

The two gold medals won by fighters Quang Van Minh and Tran Ngoc Luong also concluded a successful SEA Games 33 campaign for the Vietnamese MMA team. Earlier, in the first sparring final held on the afternoon of December 11th, fighter Duong Thi Thanh Binh also won a silver medal in the traditional women's 54kg category.

Thus, after two days of competition, the Vietnamese MMA team's fighters have won a total of 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals, exceeding the target set at the SEA Games 33 (only 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals).

Team leader Nguyen Hong Minh gives a "bonus" to the Vietnamese MMA team.

To promptly encourage the outstanding MMA fighters, Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Head of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation - decided to award a "bonus" for each medal won by the Vietnamese MMA team at the SEA Games 33. Accordingly, the gold medalist received 10 million VND, the silver medalist received 5 million VND, and the bronze medalist received 3 million VND.

Despite winning prestigious medals, the Vietnamese MMA team's achievements will not be counted towards the overall medal standings. This is because MMA is being included in competitions for the first time, at the suggestion of host country Thailand, so the medals are only counted as demonstration results. Nevertheless, this is still considered an important stepping stone, bringing MMA closer to becoming an official competitive sport in the future.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/sea-games-33-vo-oa-voi-cu-dup-huy-chuong-vang-lich-su-cua-mma-viet-nam.html