SEA Games curtain falls, Vietnam top with record 205 golds

The 31st Southeast Asian Games wrapped up in Hanoi on Monday with a closing ceremony at My Dinh Indoor Athletics Palace, where Vietnam formally handed over the duties to Cambodia to host the next SEA Games next year.

“The Farewell” section in the festive ceremony highlighted distinctive Vietnamese culture, followed by Cambodian artists’ performances featuring their country, people and culture.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger Southeast Asia”, was held during two weeks in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring cities and provinces. In the end, the hosts came first with 205 golds, 125 silvers, and 116 bronzes.

Thailand ranked second with 92 golds, 103 silvers, and 136 bronzes, followed by Indonesia (69 golds, 61 silvers, and 81 bronzes), according to the event’s official website.

Achieving 52 golds, 70 silvers, and 104 bronzes, the Philippines came fourth. Singapore took 47 golds, 46 silvers, and 73 bronzes to rank fifth. From the sixth position to 11th were Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor Leste.

Notably, Vietnam secured the golds in both men’s and women’s football with two 1-0 victories over the Thai men and women.

The 31st SEA Games included 526 categories in 40 sports. Of them, 25 are Olympic sports, 12 played at the Asian Games, and three Southeast Asian games.

Outstandingly, the hosts’ athletics and swimming teams clinched significant victories, obtaining up to 22 gold medals in athletics and 11 golds in swimming.

Vietnam’s overall success in SEA Games 31 is pinning high hopes on the country’s sports competitions in the time to come.