After the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team defeated their rival Thailand for the first time to win the 2025 SEA-V.League, along with good achievements at international events, especially the ticket to the 2025 World Cup, there is a great belief that women's volleyball is facing a turning point. The turning point came with the first SEA Games Gold Medal in history.
In fact, since the beginning of 2025, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation has "assigned the task" to the women's team to win the Gold Medal at the Southeast Asian Games at the end of the year in Thailand. However, between the two times, a series of incidents occurred, and up to now, the Federation has lowered the target to the Silver Medal.
According to the explanation, because coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet "does not have the best squad", the adjustment of the target is "appropriate". Suitability, here, is understood as helping athletes not to be pressured and will "play to the best of their ability with the most comfortable mentality". With this suitability, if they miss the championship, it would be great.
However, when lowering the target, people can easily think of a safer choice than trying to push athletes beyond the limit. Fans and experts know that Bich Tuyen's absence is an important reason for lowering the target, but it accidentally pushes Thanh Thuy and her remaining teammates into thinking "Just need to enter the final - meaning at least a Silver Medal. And fans and experts all know that that is within reach of the Vietnam women's team.
People in general and in sports in particular have strange things about the so-called limit of ability. When the goal is determined - even if it is higher than the ability - and at the same time understand the existing reality, the brain will put the body in maximum concentration. Results may not be achieved, but the important thing is the highest goal of keeping them fighting at their most determined state.
On the contrary, when the target was safe, were they sure to play with the most comfort and at their best? Reversal is sometimes subjectivity (because it is more about knowing one's own strength). It is not that Vietnamese volleyball and many other sports have witnessed many moments of "before the threshold of dawn" and then collapsed due to psychology! ?
So there are times when we have to get through the comfort zone...
