Bursting with joy with the runner-up title at SEA Games 33
Before participating in SEA Games 33, I only kept one thing in mind: I must focus on competing at my best. My spirit was very comfortable with that competition. In each dance, I was adjusted by the coach. And indeed, the Silver Medal came to me completely unexpectedly. I am very happy to win a medal for the first time with the Vietnam Athletics Team at SEA Games," Ha Thi Thuy Hang recalled memories of SEA Games 33 that took place last year in Thailand.
The long jump pit in athletics at the central stadium at SEA Games 33 at that time received cheers from a large number of spectators. On the SEA Games 33 stands, the long jump monument Bui Thi Thu Thao of Vietnam Athletics was also present to cheer for her juniors. When witnessing her successors, athletes Tran Thi Loan and Ha Thi Thuy Hang, respectively winning first and second places in women's long jump at SEA Games 33, Bui Thi Thu Thao only had time to confide: "The young people are all talented and potential. They will definitely have opportunities to break through in the future".
To reach the official spot to participate in SEA Games 33, Ha Thi Thuy Hang must strive to prepare professionally and assert herself through many competition programs. Because the Vietnamese athletics team does not want to take risks with young athletes who are not experienced like Thuy Hang (she participated in SEA Games 33 at the age of 19).
However, the coaching staff's point of view is still protected, that potential athletes need to have the opportunity to affirm their expertise. For that reason, Ha Thi Thuy Hang was awarded an official spot to compete in SEA Games 33. "This is the first time I have participated in SEA Games. Before, I only watched my brothers and sisters compete in SEA Games on TV screens, but now, I have competed in reality and won a Silver Medal," Ha Thi Thuy Hang confided.
In early 2025, Ha Thi Thuy Hang gained her first professional accumulation by competing at the World Student Congress. At that time, she only achieved a result of 6m12 in the long jump and did not have a medal. In August 2025, at the 2025 National Athletics Championships, Thuy Hang won a Silver Medal (achievement 6m37). This is one of the results that guaranteed Thuy Hang to reach SEA Games 33. In Thailand, she won a Silver Medal in the women's long jump with a result of 6m29 (winning the Gold Medal in the women's long jump at SEA Games 33 was athlete Tran Thi Loan - 6m53).
Happiness when supported by family
Ha Thi Thuy Hang started practicing specialized athletics in the long jump event from 2019. This female athlete with a lovely face born in 2006 is from the Lai Dong countryside, Phu Tho. Thuy Hang is a Muong ethnic person. In her sharing, Thuy Hang said that the happiest thing for her is being supported and encouraged by her family in athletics training and competition. "I don't know what to say, but for me, all the achievements I have achieved always want to share with relatives and family," Thuy Hang added.
At the central stadium of SEA Games 33, Ha Thi Thuy Hang smiled and then had tears when witnessing her mother and relatives come to Thailand to cheer. She added: "SEA Games 33 is very interesting for me because my mother and uncle and relatives were present in the stands cheering. They are a source of spiritual encouragement for me to strive for achievements for myself.
Therefore, when Thuy Hang received the Silver Medal, her relatives went down to the track to hug the female athlete in happiness mixed with the joy of winning the medal.
However, sports is not a rose. Thuy Hang herself recognizes that she or any athlete must focus on preparing professionally and accept failure to gain more mature experience. "Training or competing is not always smooth sailing for me. It is in difficult times, even when I am injured, that I am encouraged by my coach to adjust. And my relatives also accompany and cheer for me to regain a better spirit," Thuy Hang expressed.
When interacting with Thuy Hang, few people think this is a girl just entering the age of 20. Because, Thuy Hang's exchanges are very mature and have a comfortable mood. She said that she is always optimistic about everything because the mental factor will determine the results in training and competition. From participating in youth tournaments and national tournaments and SEA Games, the biggest thing Thuy Hang believes is not to give up. She said: "When you have the support and encouragement from your loved ones, you will definitely have more faith to achieve good results.
A challenging journey ahead
Jumping is one of the difficult professional contents in athletics competitions. Because athletes must harmoniously combine many techniques from warm-up, jumping and have perfect landing to achieve the best results. Thuy Hang believes that when choosing this content to pursue a career, she accepts professional challenges. She expressed: "I have been trained in basic techniques with jumping content and accumulated and learned experience from coaches, seniors. I see that I still have many things to accumulate to develop better".
When this article was published, Ha Thi Thuy Hang officially departed for China to compete in the 2026 Asian Beach Games (taking place from April 22 to April 30). For her personally, this is the second largest Games-level sports arena in her career. Last year, Thuy Hang participated in SEA Games 33. This year, she is an official member of the Vietnam Athletics Team competing in the 2026 Asian Beach Games. With the coaching staff of the Vietnam Athletics Team, the athletes participating in the competition all aim for achievements and Thuy Hang has her own tasks.
She added: "I have closed the memories of SEA Games 33 to enter 2026. This year, I still focus on the big goal of accumulating and improving my expertise. I have been training according to the coach's curriculum since the beginning of 2026 and have competition tasks. At the end of the year, I am very hopeful that I will have good results at the X National Sports Games - 2026".
The most recent Asian Beach Games held before this year was in 2016 taking place on the coast of Da Nang, Vietnam. At that time, the Vietnamese athletics team won 15 medals (including 5 Gold Medals). One of the Gold Medals of the Vietnamese athletics team at the 2016 Asian Beach Games was in the women's long jump event of Bui Thi Thu Thao. Therefore, with the 2026 Asian Beach Games this time, experts are very confident that the Vietnamese female athletics athlete can repeat that achievement. If she maintains mental comfort, Ha Thi Thuy Hang will have enough opportunities to conquer the long jump pit of the 2026 Asian Beach Games.
