Another SEA Games pencak silat controversy as Thai fighter intentionally sets Vietnamese opponent up for disqualification

Kien had dominated the match from the opening bell, building a commanding 52-34 lead over Thailand’s Janjaroen Tinnapat in the match on Tuesday.

With only four seconds remaining on the clock, the 27-year-old Vietnamese fighter launched a kick. In a split-second movement, Tinnapat suddenly lowered his body, causing Kien’s foot to make contact with his neck. The Thai fighter collapsed to the mat, covering his face in pain, prompting immediate medical intervention.

Following a seven-minute delay during which referees reviewed the incident and a complaint from the Thailand coaching staff, the decision was made: Kien was disqualified for striking the opponent’s face, a strictly prohibited area in pencak silat.

The verdict meant Tinnapat advanced to Wednesday’s gold medal match, while Kien had to settle for bronze. The Vietnamese fighter collapsed in tears upon hearing the decision, burying his head in the mat before being consoled by his coach, but he did not stop crying.

Speaking to ReadVietnam’s head coach Nguyen Van Hung argued that the Thai fighter had exploited the rules.

“In my opinion, that kick only hit the neck area, not the face,” Hung said. After being far behind in points, the Thai fighter deliberately lunged forward, intentionally putting his face out, forcing Kien to commit a foul,” Hung claimed.

After the match, Kien also admitted that this is a sensitive decision.

“My foot landed on my opponent’s shoulder, but my toes might have lightly touched his neck. It was a 50-50 situation, a very fine line between scoring and disqualifying. I accept the referee’s decision,” he said.

Minutes later, controversy erupted again in the men’s under-65kg semi-final, this time with a different outcome for Vietnam.

Vietnamese fighter Nguyen Minh Triet, trailing against Malaysia’s Muhammad Izzul Irfan Marzuki, was struck in the neck and fell to the floor in pain. However, unlike the previous match, the referee appeared unfazed, initially ordering Triet to stand up. Despite protests from the Vietnam coaching staff and a delay for medical attention, the referee gave the victory to the Malaysian fighter.

Vietnamese Nguyen Minh Triet was floored after being punched by Malaysia’s Muhammad Izzul Irfan Marzuki in the semi-final of the men’s pencak silat under 65kg event at the 33rd SEA Games in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 16, 2025. Photo by Read/Duc Dong.

In pencak silat, valid target areas included the shoulder to waist (chest, abdomen, ribs, back), while strikes to the head, neck, face and groin are prohibited. The referee can declare a disqualification if an illegal strike makes a fighter unable to continue.

The incidents follow a violent altercation the previous day, where members of the Malaysia pencak silat team assaulted a referee following a controversial loss to Thailand, claiming that he was favoring the host.