Hanoi, Dec. 28 -- The 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, held earlier this month in Thailand, marked a historic milestone for Vietnamese sports, reflecting a comprehensive transformation in both strategy and competitive outlook.

Finishing third overall with 278 medals (87 gold, 81 silver and 110 bronze), Vietnam has many reasons to be proud, as a new generation of athletes has truly come of age and is ready to shoulder national aspirations.

A key highlight of this SEA Games was the strategic shift toward Olympic sports. Instead of chasing medal numbers in regional disciplines, Vietnam focused on core Olympic events, and it proved effective. In athletics, new talents made impressive breakthroughs, notably high jumper Bui Thi Kim Anh, born...