Singaporean beach volleyball star wins hearts of Vietnamese fans despite SEA Games loss

By Hoang Nguyen December 13, 2025 | 02:29 am PT

Despite suffering defeat, Singaporean beach volleyball player Eliza Chong has captivated Vietnamese fans following her Group A match against Vietnam at the 33rd SEA Games on Friday.

While Vietnam dominated the court, winning both matches in straight sets with 21-15, 21-7 in the first and 21-10, 21-8 in the second, the spotlight shifted to a player on the opposite team.

Chong, known for her beauty and positive energy, captivated the audience and quickly became a trending topic on Vietnamese social media.

Screenshots of Eliza Chong in action during the SEA Games 33 match between Singapore and Vietnam on Dec. 12, 2025

Screenshots of Eliza Chong in action during a SEA Games match between Singapore and Vietnam on Dec. 12, 2025.

Photos of the 26-year-old athlete in action were widely shared across Facebook and TikTok, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and interactions within hours of the match.

Chong is no stranger to the international stage. A key figure in the Singapore national women's beach volleyball team, she has represented her country since the age of 16.

According to Team Singapore, her resume includes participation in the SEA Games since 2019, a top-five finish at the 2021 SEA Games and a second-place finish in the 2022 Commonwealth Games qualifiers.

Eliza Chong during a volleyball match. Photo by Instagram/@elizachong

Her on-court charisma has garnered her a considerable online following. Chong currently boasts over 94,000 followers on Instagram. After Friday's match, her posts were flooded with likes and complimentary comments from Vietnamese fans.

Fans will have more opportunities to catch Chong in action as Singapore continues its group stage campaign. The team are scheduled to play four more matches on Dec. 13, 14, 15, and 18.