Vietnam lost 2-3 to Thailand in the semifinals of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, placing the former among the joint third-place finishers and secured a historic bronze medal for Vietnamese esports.

The semifinal went down to the wire over five games. Vietnam took the lead at one point but could not overcome Thailand, eventually bowing out with a narrow 2-3 defeat.

Under the competition format for NARAKA: Bladepoint, no bronze-medal match is held, meaning both semifinal losers are awarded bronze medals. Thailand advanced to the final against China for the gold medal.

Before reaching the semifinals, Vietnam’s NARAKA: Bladepoint team made an impressive start by winning all three of its Group B matches.

Vietnam defeated Hong Kong, China, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei in succession, winning each match 2-0 to top the group and advance to the knockout stage.

The Vietnamese lineup featured Tran Cong Tinh (Pampy), Lai Nguyen Anh Khoa (Akame), Hong Phat (PhatMilk), Van Phuc An Khang (Yin) and Diep Chi Hieu (LyPolaris), coached by Do Trong Nghia.

The bronze medal in Aichi-Nagoya marks Vietnamese esports’ first medal at an official Asian Games. It also provides the opening medal for Vietnam’s esports campaign at the 20th Asian Games.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022, held in 2023, esports was included in the official Asian Games medal programme for the first time. Vietnam competed in six events but did not win a medal.

At the 20th Asian Games, esports remains part of the official medal programme, with 13 events and 11 medal sets. The esports competition is being held at Aichi Sky Expo from September 23 to October 2.

Before leaving for Japan, the team set a target of winning at least three medals, including two silver medals and one bronze, to contribute to Vietnam’s overall medal tally at the 20th Asian Games.

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