The Vietnam men’s table tennis team secured the gold medal at the 2026 Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships on November 12, defeating tournament hosts Malaysia 3-1 in Kuala Lumpur.
The final, held during the regional tournament running from November 10 to 14, marked Vietnam’s first gold medal of the competition. The coaching staff selected Dinh Anh Hoang, Le Dinh Duc, and Nguyen Anh Tu as the main players for the final against the host team, according to Laodong.vn.
Dinh Anh Hoang opened the match by defeating Choong Javen 3-2. Nguyen Anh Tu then extended the lead by securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Wong Qi Shen.
Although Le Dinh Duc fell 3-2 to Lee Hong An in the third match, Dinh Anh Hoang returned to the table to clinch the title in the fourth match. Despite dropping the first set, he rallied to beat Wong Qi Shen 3-1, with set scores of 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, and 11-8.
Vietnamese athletes compete in seven categories
The Vietnamese delegation at the championships includes 10 athletes—five men and five women—accompanied by two coaches. The squad is competing across seven distinct categories, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Alongside the gold medalists, the roster features prominent competitors such as Tran Mai Ngoc and Mai Hoang My Trang.
The victory followed a strategic rotation, as the team required a fourth match to overcome the host nation after Le Dinh Duc’s narrow 2-3 loss to Lee Hong An reduced the overall lead to 2-1.
Financial incentives for the gold medalists
The Vietnam Table Tennis Federation established a tiered reward system for medalists prior to the tournament. President Nguyen Xuan Vu pledged 50 million VND for gold, 30 million for silver, and 20 million for bronze. Vice President Tong Duc Thuan offered 30 million, 20 million, and 10 million VND for the respective podium finishes.
The delegation, consisting of 10 athletes and two coaches, competes across various events, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Athletes continue campaign after November 14 conclusion
The 2026 Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships are scheduled to conclude on November 14 in Kuala Lumpur. Athletes including Tran Mai Ngoc and Mai Hoang My Trang are among those present at the tournament. Following the team success, the representatives are scheduled to continue their campaign in individual and doubles events.
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