Frustration over officiating at the 33rd SEA Games occurred again when Vietnam Muay Thai coaching staff abruptly pulled fighter Hoang Khanh Mai out of her semi-final match against the Philippines, forfeiting in protest.
A screenshot of Vietnam Muay Thai team leader Nguyen Huy Thinh throwing a water bottle into the ring in protest of unfair refereeing during the SEA Games women’s 45 kg event in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 16, 2025. |
Competing in the women’s 45 kg event in Bangkok on Tuesday, Mai dominated early, landed precise strikes and even knocked her opponent, Islay Erika Bomogao, to the canvas once. However, tension exploded when the judges awarded the higher score to the Philippine fighter after the first two rounds.
Outraged by the scoring, the Vietnam Muay Thai team leader, Nguyen Huy Thinh, threw a water bottle into the ring and shouted in protest. Unwilling to continue under what they deemed biased officiating, coach Co Tan Anh Linh and Thinh instructed Khanh Mai to abandon the fight midway through. Despite the referee’s attempts to call her back to the ring, the 19-year-old bowed to the audience and walked out of the arena.
The Decision Stunned the Crowd and Filipino fans, who turn to Celebrating Bomogao’s Victory by forfeit. The resultt sult bomogao to the final, where she will will thailand’s noon-eiad arissara.
Before the incident, Khanh Mai was a rising star whom the coaching staff had tipped for gold. Her accolades include a gold medal at the 2025 Asian Championships and a U23 world title in the 45 kg category earlier this year.
Vietnamese Muay Thai fighter Hoang Khanh Mai and the coaching staff quit the match against Filipino Islay Erika Bomogao at SEA Games on Dec. 16, 2025 due to unfair refereeing.
This incident adds to a growing list of frustration from Vietnam teams regarding martial arts refereeing at the 33rd SEA Games. It follows the exit of MMA fighter Pham Van Nam, who broke down in tears after a controversial loss to his Thai opponent in the under-56 kg semi-finals, and the disqualification of pencak silat fighter Vu Van Kien, who was eliminated despite holding a massive lead against Thai opponent Janjaroen Tinnapat in the 60 kg event.
The Vietnam Muay Thai team will enter the final round of competition on Wednesday afternoon with high stakes, as six fighters are set to compete for gold medals, all against Thai opponents.
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