The 33rd SEA Games are drawing to a close, with Vietnamese sports facing a familiar challenge: the pressure of medal targets. However, unlike many previous Games, the story in Bangkok is no longer simply about "enough or too few gold medals." The published figures, along with how the delegation leaders perceive the results, show that Vietnamese sports are entering a phase of evaluation based on quality, not emotion.
According to the preliminary assessment of the Vietnamese sports delegation's leaders, we have "basically completed our mission." At the 33rd SEA Games, when Thailand swept nearly three times as many gold medals as the runner-up, the competition among the sports delegations became even more intense and unpredictable as fewer medals remained and the level of competition increased. On the leaderboard, while Vietnam and Indonesia vied for second place, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines were close behind, neck and neck for each gold medal.
The essence of the 33rd SEA Games for Vietnam was not about achieving top honors at all costs, but about the "gold medal count" in Olympic sports. The figure of around 60 gold medals from this group of sports, accounting for nearly 70% of the total achievements, is a sign of a policy shift. A noteworthy detail is that our key sports all met their targets. 12 gold medals in athletics, 6 in swimming, 7 in shooting, rowing, and karate, along with consistent performance in many Olympic martial arts, are telling figures. They reflect the effectiveness of prioritizing depth rather than mechanically accumulating breadth.
Once again, the fighting spirit of the athletes was demonstrated in a timely manner when facing immense challenges after leading the overall medal standings for two consecutive SEA Games. The most exhilarating moment was the men's football final after the outstanding comeback victory by Coach Kim Sang-sik's team against the host nation. The fact that the U22 men's football, women's futsal, and women's football teams all reached the finals, bringing home two prestigious gold medals, created a crucial psychological "backbone."
In football, victory is not just about points, but also a catalyst, quenching the thirst for achievement for the entire team. If it weren't for the "blemishes" from the refereeing regarding the women's team, Vietnam's dominance at this tournament might have been absolute.
It must be acknowledged that the 33rd SEA Games is no longer the "easy" competition it once was. The appearance of former Olympic champions, the strong trend of naturalization in athletics and some other sports has significantly increased the level of competition. Last-minute changes to venues, weather conditions, a packed schedule, and refereeing issues are all real variables.
However, precisely because of the increased level of competition, the pressure to meet targets needs to be handled with a managerial mindset, not through commands. The 33rd SEA Games clearly demonstrated this: when athletes maintain a stable mental state, they have the potential to achieve breakthroughs. The victory of the men's sepak takraw team against Thailand in the semi-finals or the men's football final are prime examples. These were not unexpected victories, but the result of daring to play to their full potential, without being weighed down by their "long-standing rival" or expectations of achieving high results.
The 33rd SEA Games will soon conclude, but what the Vietnamese sports delegation has shown has outlined a new image: more professional, more focused, and richer in identity. Achieving the target of 90 gold medals is achievable, but more importantly, it's about how we reach the finish line. It must be a sprint by true warriors, those who know how to flourish even in the storm. Vietnamese sports don't need miracles, but rather individuals who dare to stand firm against the pressure to affirm their position as a regional sporting powerhouse reaching out to the world. The finish line is within reach, and now is the time for Vietnamese resilience to speak up in the most straightforward and proud way.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tu-tin-ve-dich-post829714.html
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