Anticipating the women's volleyball showdown between Vietnam and Thailand at SEA Games 33

Supporters are looking forward to the well-known "battle" between Vietnam and Thailand in the women's volleyball championship.

The draw results for indoor volleyball at SEA Games 33 have officially set up matchups full of excitement. In the women's category, Vietnam is in Group B alongside Indonesia, Myanmar, and Malaysia; meanwhile, Group A consists of Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Given this setup, fans are anticipating the usual "showdown" between Vietnam and Thailand in the final match.

According to the competition format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. From there, the two winners will compete for the gold medal, while the two losing teams will each receive bronze. Unless a major upset occurs, Thailand and Vietnam are likely to face off again in the final, continuing a rivalry that has lasted over a decade.

The Thai women's volleyball team is a regional powerhouse, having won 16 SEA Games titles and aiming for their 17th. Meanwhile, Vietnam has reached the final 11 times but has always been stopped by Thailand.

Under the guidance of coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt, the Vietnamese team is determined to break the streak and win their historic gold medal at this year’s Games.

The team is scheduled to gather on October 25 in Quảng Ninh. Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt has proposed a list of 20 athletes for this training session, before narrowing it down to 14 official players for the SEA Games.

Notably, key players Trần Thị Thanh Thúy and Trần Thị Bích Thủy are currently competing in the Japanese national league and will join the team just before the Games. Meanwhile, outside hitter Nguyễn Thị Bích Tuyền will not participate due to not being in optimal condition.

Besides the women's event, the organizers also announced the men's volleyball draw. Vietnam is placed in Group A with Thailand, Singapore, and Laos, while Group B includes Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

Although Vietnam's men's volleyball team has never won gold, they are expected to reach the top four and possibly cause surprises at the upcoming SEA Games.