SEA Games 2025 faces further disruption as Cambodia withdraws its volleyball team despite being the runner-up at SEA Games 2023.
On 27 Nov 2025 GMT+7, the Cambodian Olympic Committee sent an urgent letter to the SEA Games Federation requesting withdrawal from eight sports at the 33rd SEA Games, hosted by Thailand from 9–20 December. This represents a major late-stage change before the competition's start.
Cambodia initially planned to send athletes for 21 sports but recently informed Chaiyak Sirivat, president of the SEA Games Federation, of their withdrawal from judo, karate, prajetsilat, petanque, wrestling, wushu, football, and sepak takraw—mostly team sports—citing concerns over athlete and staff safety and wanting to reduce risks during the games in Thailand.
They confirmed participation in 13 sports: swimming, athletics, esports, fencing, gymnastics, jujitsu, kickboxing, taekwondo, equestrian, jet ski, triathlon, teqball, and volleyball.
Recently, at the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the Government House, Mr. Atthakorn Sirilattayakorn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, chaired a meeting on organizing the 33rd SEA Games from 9–20 December 2025 and the 13th ASEAN Para Games from 20–26 January 2026 GMT+7.
Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), revealed at the meeting that Cambodia has further withdrawn its men's volleyball team, reducing their confirmed participation to 12 sports.
Cambodia’s men’s volleyball team was originally in Group B with Indonesia (gold medalist), Myanmar, and the Philippines, scheduled to debut against Indonesia on 13 December 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Thailand time.