Vietnamese Women's Sepak Takraw: Dramatic Comeback, Straight to Asiad 20 Final

The Vietnamese women's sepak takraw team has secured a place in the women's doubles final at the 20th Asian Games (Asiad 20) after a convincing 2-0 victory over South Korea. The semifinal took place at noon on September 28, 2026, and this win not only affirmed the bravery of the golden girls but also demonstrated the tactical acumen of coach Nguyen Thi Vui. Entering the match, the pair Thu Trang and Khanh Ly did not have a favorable start. They let the South Korean opponent take a 4-1 and then 6-3 lead in the first game. Facing an unfavorable situation, coach Nguyen Thi Vui made a bold decision: substituting Khanh Ly with Hong Lien mid-game. This change immediately created a turning point. Hong Lien, with accurate finishing moves, helped Vietnam score 12 consecutive points, reversing the situation and winning the first game 15-6. In the second game, a similar scenario repeated as Vietnam continued to let the opponent lead 5-1 and then 7-3. However, with determination and the brilliance of Hong Lien at the decisive moment, the Vietnamese team successfully came back, winning narrowly 15-13, thereby sealing the overall 2-0 victory. This win sends Vietnam to the final against the Philippines, a team that, according to historical statistics, Vietnam has often dominated. Notably, this is not the first time Vietnam has struggled in the opening game. In both games, the team let the opponent lead by 3 to 4 points. This reveals a persistent weakness in warm-up and match entry. In the 15-point sepak takraw format, letting the opponent take a large early lead is extremely dangerous, as every point is valuable and there is little time to come back. However, Vietnam's ability to reverse the situation is also impressive, especially thanks to the coaching staff's sensible substitution. Previously, in the group stage, the Vietnamese women's sepak takraw team had an undesirable start when they lost 1-2 to Laos in their opening match. However, afterwards, the girls quickly regained their form with two 2-0 victories over Myanmar and Malaysia, thereby qualifying for the semifinals as group winners. This inconsistency shows that the team still depends on individual form and may struggle against unfamiliar opponents. Coach Nguyen Thi Vui shared after the match: "We knew South Korea was a tough opponent, but my students showed their bravery. Substituting Hong Lien was to change the rhythm of the match, and she completed her task excellently." For her part, Hong Lien said: "I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity when given. This victory is the effort of the whole team, and we will try our best in the final." The final will take place at 7:40 AM on September 29, 2026. This is a rather early time slot, which could affect the physical condition and concentration of the athletes. In addition, having to play two matches in the same day (group stage in the morning and semifinal at noon) is also a great physical challenge for a pair with only two players. However, with bravery and experience, the Vietnamese team is confident of aiming for the gold medal. Vietnam's opponent in the final is the Philippines. According to experts, Vietnam has a very bright chance of winning because in the past, the Vietnamese women's team has regularly defeated the Philippines by wide margins. However, it should be noted that historical achievements do not guarantee the present, and the Philippines will certainly not give up easily. They have also reached the final, proving they are not an easy opponent. In the men's regu event, the Vietnamese sepak takraw team won the bronze medal after stopping in the semifinals. This is not a surprising result as Vietnamese men's sepak takraw still lags behind the continent's top teams such as Thailand and Malaysia. However, this bronze medal also contributes to the overall achievements of the Vietnamese sports delegation at Asiad 20. Before entering the competition, the Vietnamese sports delegation had gone through two days, September 26 and 27, without any medals. Therefore, the victory of the women's sepak takraw team is even more significant, adding motivation for the remaining athletes. Fans are eagerly expecting the gold medal from the golden girls, who are dubbed "the golden star female warriors". However, pressure from expectations is also a significant challenge. If they unfortunately lose in the final, the team may face criticism from public opinion. Therefore, the coaching staff needs to prepare the athletes psychologically well, helping them play comfortably and confidently. Tactically, it is likely that coach Nguyen Thi Vui will keep the starting lineup with Thu Trang and Khanh Ly, or may start Hong Lien from the beginning to avoid a slow start. This decision will depend on the form and condition of each player in the final training session. Regardless, fans have the right to believe in a good match for the Vietnamese team. The final promises to be very attractive and dramatic. Let's look forward to it and cheer for the golden girls of Vietnamese sepak takraw.