On the competition day of December 11, young fighter Nguyen Hong Trong stepped onto the highest podium at the 33rd SEA Games, concluding his emotional and effortsome journey.
In the final match, Hong Trong defeated Indonesian askman Aziz Tumakaka to bring home a valuable gold medal. However, the highlight match that helped the 21-year-old get closer to glory came in the semi-finals, when he had to face Bryan Barbosa - the 3-time SEA Games champion and a former Tokyo 2020 Olympic appearance.
The victory over this resounding opponent was the moment that affirmed the bravery of Vietnamese taekwondo in the weight class, which was once a strength but has been missed continuously since 2003.
The last time Vietnamese taekwondo won a gold medal in the 54kg weight class was when Long Dien won at the 22nd SEA Games. Defeating Barbosa was an unforgettable moment. He was too strong, but I was confident to do everything I could to get to the end.
The better thing is that I can bring success to the weight class that was once the pride of Vietnamese taekwondo, Hong Trong shared.
The journey to the 33rd SEA Games gold medal is even more meaningful if looking back at his steps in the previous SEA Games, when he was eliminated in the opening match against Ramnarong Sawekwiharee - a boxer who has stood on the throne of continental and world glory many times. Two years after that defeat, Trong has matured to reverse all predictions.
The victory at the 33rd SEA Games marked a major turning point in the career of the 21-year-old fighter, opening a new and promising journey for Vietnamese taekwondo in the once iconic weight class.
