The semi-final match of the 45kg women's weight class at the 33rd SEA Games on the afternoon of December 16 left many controversies. Accordingly, Vietnamese boxer Hoang Khanh Mai unexpectedly did not continue to compete against opponent Islay Bomogao from the Philippines.
Khanh Mai's decision to stop the match after two rounds surprised the audience and the opponent.
Islay Bomogao is considered one of the top fighters in the region in this weight class. The Philippine boxer currently holds the highest position on the rankings of the International boxing Federation (IFMA) and has extensive experience in professional competitions. Despite facing a strong opponent, Khanh Mai still entered the match confidently, played fiercely and did not fall behind in the first two rounds.
According to the assessors, Bomogao was the better with a score of 10-9, thereby temporarily leading 20-18 before entering the final round. However, the Vietnamese team did not agree with this scoring method. A harsh reaction appeared from the stand when the coach expressed his frustration, saying that the results did not accurately reflect the developments on the battlefield.
Right before the third half started, Hoang Khanh Mai and the coaching staff decided to leave the competition area, which means they refused to continue competing.
This action was determined by the organizing committee to be a given up, thereby giving the right to enter the final to the Philippine fighter. The Onesports website described the atmosphere at the Lumpinee stadium as especially confusing when the Vietnamese fighter suddenly left the ring.
Sharing after the match, Islay Bomogao admitted that she was quite confused because she didn't understand what happened, even though the result helped her avoid playing in the final round. With this result, Bomogao won a ticket to the final, while Hoang Khanh Mai received a bronze medal at the 33rd SEA Games.
