Thai women keep their dynasty alive

Thailand reaffirmed their dominance in regional volleyball on Monday night, clinching a record-extending 17th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal after surviving a dramatic five-set battle with Vietnam at Bangkok’s Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

- HANIF HASSAN

The 3-2 triumph, achieved amid a deafening home atmosphere, extended Thailand’s extraordinary run of consecutive titles in the event to 15 — a sequence unmatched in the region's sporting landscape.

What unfolded was far from a routine defence of their crown. Vietnam, whose rapid development has transformed them into Thailand’s most credible challengers, pushed the hosts to their limits in a final that veered from control to chaos and back again.

Momentum shifted repeatedly, and Thailand were forced to draw on their experience, depth and nerve to keep their longstanding supremacy intact.

Vietnam made the brighter start, unsettling Thailand with sharp, opportunistic play and a disciplined block that disrupted the home side’s rhythm. Their reward was a 25-19 opening set that silenced the crowd and underlined their growing threat.