The 2025 SEA Games is just around the corner—33 days to be exact—and the 11 nations competing in the games continue their extensive preparations for the biennial showcase. As you may recall, Thailand will host this year’s tournament from December 9 to 20, 2025. The games are to be played across the provinces of Chonburi and Songkhla, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Region.
A few weeks ago, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism held a meeting with the local organisers and other important stakeholders. One of the main highlights of the meeting was the official draw for team sports competitions, such as volleyball, football, futsal, billiards, and snooker.
Other than the delegates’ meeting, the Ministry of Tourism also inspected the venues for the games, including the Extreme Sports Park, the SAT Swimming Complex, the Velodrome Cycling Track, and the Boccia Training Center.
Without further ado, continue reading below, as SBOTOP recaps some of the most notable SEA Games 2025 updates.
Thailand aim to assert dominance in women’s volleyball
Thailand are aiming high this year, reportedly targeting up to 129 gold medals, with volleyball and baseball leading hopes. Technical chairman and former head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai wants at least two gold medals from volleyball after confirming that most of their top players, such as star opposite Pimpichaya Kokram, will join the team to maintain their dominance in Southeast Asia.
Thailand’s women’s volleyball team has won the gold for 14 straight editions, dating back to 1995. Vietnam have always been the runner-up, except in 2017, when Indonesia advanced to the final. Overall, they have 16 golds, two silvers, and three bronzes, while the Philippines are the second-winningest team with six golds, three silvers, and four bronzes.
The last time they competed in a major tournament was in the Volleyball World Championship, where they finished 13th among the 32 teams. After finishing second in Pool A behind the Netherlands, Thailand, unfortunately, lost 3-0 to Japan in the Round of 16. Before this, they finished second-to-last in the Volleyball Nations League (17th).
Here in the SEA Games, Thailand’s women’s volleyball team is placed in Group A alongside Singapore and the Philippines, and the SEA Games 2025 odds expect them to at least have another podium finish.
As for the men’s, Thailand continue to play catch-up with three-time defending champions Indonesia. The last time they won the biennial showcase was in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, where they completed their four-peat.
Philippines’ Yulo to withdraw due controversial rule
The Philippines’ golden boy, Carlos Yulo, plans to skip the 33rd SEA Games due to the new rules imposed by the organisers. Unlike in previous editions, the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand will limit athletes to only one apparatus each.
Yulo, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has won multiple medals in the SEA Games, including two golds and two silvers in 2023, where he ruled the individual all-around and parallel bars. Because of the new rules, the 25-year-old artistic gymnast would be limited to just one apparatus, so Yulo decided to give way for his teammates, as the Philippines plan to assert their dominance in gymnastics. Instead, Yulo turned his focus on the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta.
The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is still finalising its participants in various apparatus for the biennial regional meet. According to local reports, floor exercise gold medalist Ivan Cruz and vault gold medalist Miguel Besana will defend their titles in this year’s edition. On the other hand, Yulo’s youngest sister, Elaiza, a multiple Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, is expected to join the national team.
In the 2023 SEA Games, the Philippines won four golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
Indonesia have a head coaching vacancy
Indonesia are the reigning champions in men’s football after defeating Thailand in the final in 2023. However, they recently underwent major changes. They sacked Patrick Kluivert last month, leaving them without a head coach as of this writing.
Kluivert signed a two-year contract at the start of the year, tasked with taking Indonesia to their first World Cup since declaring independence in 1945. However, Indonesia’s hopes were dashed after finishing fourth in Group C third round and third in Group B fourth round of the Asian qualifiers. Overall, the former Ajax, AC Milan, and Barcelona star lasted just eight matches (W3, D1, L4).
“Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together,” Kluivert posted on Instagram following his departure.
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