Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham: From Bangkok memories to the journey of inspiring others at the 33rd SEA Games.

Here, in 1998, she stood on the Asian Games stage, competing under intense pressure to win a silver medal in karate – a special milestone for Vietnamese sports during the integration period. And here in Bangkok today, she returns, no longer in her competition uniform, but in the role of inspiring the next generation.

z7329491703607_d15c70cc1793a989334e467c94a0757c.jpg -0 — Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham (center) and his students - the champions of the 33rd SEA Games. Photo: CTV.

During the flag-raising ceremony at the 33rd SEA Games, as the Vietnamese national flag was raised, a flood of memories rushed back to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham. Her eyes followed the flag, recalling her own image from years ago – a young female martial artist standing solemnly to salute the flag, carrying with her the aspiration to contribute and national pride. “That feeling remains intact even now,” she said. “I hope that today’s athletes will continue the tradition of previous generations, so that Vietnamese sports will continue to reach new heights.”

Twenty-five years ago, Pham Hong Tham's Asian Games silver medal was considered "more precious than gold." Not only because of its professional value, but also because it marked a significant milestone in the development of Vietnamese karate on the Asian stage. Throughout her career, she has also won a world bronze medal, further solidifying the position of Vietnamese martial arts. But returning to Thailand this time, the glorious memories are not the only thing that comes flooding back. It also represents a long journey of sacrifice, injury, and perseverance.

Four surgeries due to injuries, and years of training under challenging conditions in the country, have forged the character of this former female martial artist. "Without those difficult times, I wouldn't be who I am today," Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham shared. This statement is not just a personal reflection, but also a message she wants to convey to her students.

From a top-level athlete, Pham Hong Tham transitioned to coaching, then assumed the position of Deputy Director of the People's Police Sports Training and Competition Center. Throughout this journey, she has directly discovered, selected, and trained many generations of athletes. The 33rd SEA Games is the clearest evidence of this, when two of her students, martial artists Nguyen Ngoc Tram and Khuat Hai Nam, both stepped onto the highest podium.

Watching from the stands, observing every strike and movement of her students, the former Asian Games runner-up couldn't hide her nervousness. "There were times my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest," she laughed. But then the anxiety quickly gave way to pride, as the athletes performed exactly as the coaching staff had expected.

For Khuat Hai Nam, the gold medal in the 67kg weight category at the 33rd SEA Games was a special milestone in his first participation in the Games. Few know that the small, sun-tanned boy was discovered by Pham Hong Tham at the age of 13 during a recruitment drive in Thach That ( Hanoi ). After eleven years of diligent training at the People's Police Sports Training and Competition Center, Hai Nam has reached the regional podium. "Success came late, but it is well-deserved," Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham shared.

For Nguyen Ngoc Tram, the women's team kata champion, memories of her teacher Pham Hong Tham are always linked to her early life lessons. "When I was 10 years old, I admired her greatly, not only for her achievements, but also for her willpower and determination," Tram said. From a little girl who cried because of a sprained ankle during her first training session, Ngoc Tram has risen to become a three-time consecutive SEA Games champion and the 2023 Asian Games champion.

Beyond just medals, what Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham instilled in her students was the spirit of: not being arrogant in victory, and not being discouraged in defeat. This is also the legacy she passed on to her students, including the 2017 SEA Games champion Nguyen Van Hai, who is now a grown man working at the People's Police Sports Training and Competition Center.

The 33rd SEA Games will soon come to an end, but for Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Tham, this journey in Bangkok was a complete cycle. From the memories of the past to the successes of the present, from the arena to the stands, it is a quiet but enduring continuity between generations – something that creates depth and identity for Vietnamese sports today and in the future.

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