Baseball takes spotlight at 33rd SEA Games in Thailand

By Staff reporters December 12, 2025 | 08:48 pm PT

Thailand men's baseball team at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. Photo courtesy of the organizers

Baseball has emerged as the surprise hit of the 33rd SEA Games, with Thai media claiming the sport's appeal is currently rivaling that of football in the host nation.

According to Daily News, baseball is experiencing a massive resurgence in popularity. This was fully evident during the men's final between Thailand and the Philippines at the Queen Sirikit 60th Birthday Anniversary Stadium in Thanyaburi on Friday.

The match attracted a capacity crowd that spilled over into the visiting team's fan zones, creating an electric atmosphere rarely associated with the sport in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of fans, supported by a new team of federation-selected cheerleaders, turned the stadium into a cauldron comparable to a major football match.

The surge in interest extended online, with live YouTube viewership hitting tens of thousands, significantly higher than previous tournaments. Merchandise sales also reflected the fever, with Thai national baseball jerseys reportedly becoming highly sought-after items.

Despite the vibrant home support, Thailand fell short on the field, losing 3-5 to the Philippines in the final. However, Duangchot Suwannacharas, President of the Thai Baseball Federation, remained optimistic. He noted that fan interest had far exceeded expectations and called for increased support from the government and private sector to keep this momentum.

"Thai baseball has a bright future," he said, adding that the team is now pivoting its focus to winning gold in the upcoming baseball event.

The Games enters the fourth official competition day Sunday. At the end of the morning's swimming heat, Vietnamese athletes advanced to the finals in three out of four events.

Vietnam will compete in 23 sports on Saturday. This included a maximum of 30 finals across nine sports, including swimming, athletics, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, kickboxing, pencak silat, shooting, and chess.

Nguyen Thi Oanh and Le Thi Tuyet will compete in the women's 5,000m final at 6:45 p.m. today. Oanh is currently Vietnam's most successful track and field athlete at the SEA Games, with 12 gold medals. The 30-year-old athlete also has two other events: the 3,000m steeplechase and the 10,000m run.