Vietnam lost the first set 12-15 against Thailand. In the final set, the home team, spurred on by hundreds of cheering fans, surged to a 5-2 lead. That's when Tran Thi Vui's squad scored 6 consecutive points, silencing the Central Hatyai stadium. Vietnam closed out the match 12-15, 15-8, 15-7, securing their third championship title.

Coach Tran Thi Vui, key player Tran Thi Ngoc Yen, and assistant coach Hoang Thi Thai Xuan (from left to right) with the 2025 world championship trophy for Vietnam's women's 4-player sepak takraw team at Central Hatyai shopping center, Songkhla Province, Thailand, on the afternoon of 27/7/2025. Photo: FBNV

This victory was more decisive than the World Cup final in 3/2025, when Vietnam won their first title by defeating Thailand 15-12, 12-15, 15-13. "Today's win was a bit easier because Thailand initially only used one striker and played defensively," coach Tran Thi Vui told VnExpress on the evening of 27/7. "They were right to block 4 of Nguyen Thi Yen's attacks. But when I instructed the team to focus all serves on Tran Thi Ngoc Yen, they could anticipate it but couldn't block her."

In the World Cup match, Thailand used two strikers, Wiphada Chitphuan and Manlika Bunthod, who alternated scoring crucial points. This time, Thailand started only with Wiphada, while Manlika was on the bench. Coach Poonsak Permsak's decision seemed partially correct, as Wiphada scored many attack points, and the three defensive players also blocked several of Nguyen Yen's attacks.

Vietnam had never come back to win after losing the first set against Thailand in any official sepak takraw final. However, Vui said her team never lost faith during the 27/7 match. Their most recent important match, at the World Cup in India, had resulted in a victory for Vietnam. "My players were very confident," the 47-year-old coach added. "When the opponent used only one striker, we felt more than half relieved."

Ngoc Yen was the inspiration for Vietnam's comeback. With Thailand leading 5-2 in the final set and serving, Nguyen Thi My's first header was poor. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen's second pass also sent the ball far from the net. But in this difficult situation, Tran Thi Ngoc Yen jumped up and delivered a gentle shot, dropping the ball just over the net on the other side, leaving the opponent no time to react.

Ngoc Yen then continued to serve difficult shots, making Thailand struggle and unable to finish. She scored 4 of the 6 consecutive points that put Vietnam in the lead at 8-5. The other two points came from successful blocks by the defensive line, to which she also contributed.

Before the match, coach Vui set a target of two block points, but the team exceeded her expectations. "I assigned Ngoc Yen, Nguyen Yen, and Ngoc Huyen to block, while Nguyen My had to cover shots that went behind the block," Vui added. "The players blocked so many shots I couldn't even count them all."

By achieving their first comeback victory against Thailand in a sepak takraw final, Vietnam continued to make history in this Asian Games sport. Their next goal is to win Vietnam's first SEA Games gold medal in the women's 4-player event, on Thai soil in 12/2025.

Xuan Binh