After months of delays, the 2021 Southeast Asian Games are underway with 5,000 athletes competing across different 40 sports. Here are some of the Gen.T honourees competing
The 31st edition of the Southeast Asia Games, or SEA Games, is finally taking place in Vietnam from 12 to 23 May 2022. The games were initially scheduled for November 2021, but had to be postponed for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In contrast to last year's Tokyo Olympics, there will be spectators at the games' venues located in Hanoi and 11 nearby provinces across the Vietnam. More than 5,000 athletes from around 11 countries in the region will compete for more than 500 gold medals in 40 different sports.
See below for four Gen.T honourees participating in the event.
Hidilyn Diaz
Filipina Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is one of the most anticipated participants of the SEA Games. She is the first Filipina weightlifter to enter the Olympics and also the first Filipina to compete in consecutive Olympics.
At the SEA Games, she will defend her gold medal in the 55kg women's category, which she won in 2019 with a total lift of 211kg. This is the same division in which she took home the Philippines' first-ever gold medal at the last year's Olympics, while also setting a new record.
Diaz is set to compete on May 20.
Read more: Hidilyn Diaz: Weightlifter Wins The Philippines' First-Ever Olympic Gold Medal
Pandelela Rinong
Malaysian diver Pandelela Rinong has both Commonwealth and World Championships titles tagged to her name. In 2012, she became the country's first female athlete to clinch an Olympic bronze medal in the 10m platform event.
At this year's SEA Games, Rinong and fellow national diver, Nur Dhabitah, have already picked up the gold medal for the synchronised women's 10m platform. The duo scored 292.14 points upon completing their five dives and clinched Malaysia's ninth gold medal at Hanoi.
Carlos Yulo
Carlos Yulo is among the most accomplished gymnasts from the Philippines. The 22-year-old made history when he became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian male to win at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2019.
During the last SEA Games, Yulo won gold in the all-around and floor exercise. He also took home silver in the pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Mentored by Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama, Yulo is the favourite at this year's competition and is looking to retain his titles. Look out for Yulo during the gymnastics event on May 13.
Panipak Wongpattanakit
Taekwondo athlete Panipak Wongpattanakit was one of Thailand's two athletes to make a podium finish during the 2020 Summer Olympics. The 24-year-old made her break when she became the world champion at the 2015 World Taekwondo Championship, where she won the gold in the 46kg event. She later took home the bronze medal during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and subsequently made history, clinching the gold medal in the women's 49kg at last year's Tokyo Olympics.
Carrying the nickname 'Tennis', the Taekwondo star is a two-time SEA Games defending champion. She was hospitalised for Covid-19 just before the SEA Games, but has since made a full recovery and is ready to compete on May 16.
See more Gen.T honourees from the Sports category of the Gen.T List.
