Vietnam’s Top Badminton Duo Sidelined for SEA Games 33 Amidst Controversy
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Despite a historic 2025 season, Vietnam’s leading men’s doubles pair, Nguyen Dinh Hoang and Tran Dinh Manh, will not compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian games (SEA Games 33), sparking outrage among fans and raising serious questions about the nation’s approach to athletic growth.
The omission of the Lam Dong-based duo, who reached a national high of 90th in the world rankings, comes after a year of unprecedented success on the international stage. Throughout 2025, Hoang and Manh consistently outperformed their peers, culminating in a historic first-place finish at the World Championships in Paris – a feat no other Vietnamese men’s doubles team had accomplished.
Their achievements didn’t stop there. The duo also secured a win at the Vietnam International Challenge 2025, claimed the national championship title, achieved second place in two International Series tournaments, and reached the quarterfinals of the Vietnam open. These results collectively represented the best performance ever recorded by a Vietnamese men’s doubles team.
Medal Quotas and Controversial Selection
Though, this impressive trajectory was not reflected in the list of 33 athletes selected to represent Vietnam at the SEA Games 33. According to officials, the decision stemmed from a tightening of medal quotas and a strategic focus on disciplines deemed more likely to yield results.
The Vietnamese badminton team had prioritized women’s singles and women’s team events,setting a target of a bronze medal in each. Disciplines without specific medal targets – including men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and men’s team – received limited consideration during the selection process. “Therefore, despite being the contry’s number one men’s doubles team, Hoang and Manh were missing from the list because they were not among the disciplines with specific targets,” a senior official stated.
Sponsorship Rejection fuels Concerns
Adding to the controversy, the duo was reportedly denied the opportunity to participate through private sponsorship, despite assurances from Lam Dong’s badminton representatives and sponsors that sufficient funding was available. This decision stands in stark contrast to the approval of private sponsorship for two men’s singles players, Hai Dang and Duc Phat, leading many to beleive the issue extends beyond financial constraints.
“the problem is not financial in nature, but lies in the association and direction of the team,” one analyst noted.
A “Safety Mentality” hindering Talent
The exclusion of Hoang and Manh has ignited a debate about the selection process and the courage to invest in emerging talent. Some experts suggest that those responsible for nominations are prioritizing risk aversion over performance potential. As the 33rd Southeast Asian Games implemented stricter medal requirements, athlete selection appears to be driven by a “safety mentality” that favors established performers over promising newcomers.
This approach, critics argue, inadvertently stifles the development of talented athletes like Hoang and Manh. Former player Pham Cao Cuong emphasized the need for the Vietnam Badminton Association to provide clear explanations to avoid further misunderstandings and negative public discourse. Former national player Tran Quoc Viet expressed shock at the decision, highlighting the duo’s recent successes and the difficulty in justifying their exclusion.
Long-Term Implications for Vietnamese Badminton
The situation underscores a broader issue in promoting young talent within Vietnamese sports. The SEA Games are not merely a platform for showcasing success; they are a crucial environment for young athletes to gain invaluable experience. The absence of competition in men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and men’s team events represents a worrying performance gap and a missed opportunity for growth.
If vietnam’s most promising duo is denied a chance to compete on such a critically important stage, it is indeed understandable that fans are concerned about the future of men’s doubles and the long-term vision of Vietnamese badminton. The story of Hoang and Manh is not simply about two individuals; it is indeed inextricably linked to the future of the sport in Vietnam.
Fans are now hoping for greater transparency in the selection process and a clearer direction for athlete development. .
