Add staffing options
According to Mr. Dao Xuan Chung - Representative of the Volleyball Department (Department of Physical Education and Sports), each team will gather 20 players to prepare for professional tasks. This means that a maximum of 40 players from the men's and women's teams will be called up. In previous gatherings, each team only called up 14-18 players according to regulations.
The team's personnel is still fully decided by the coaching staff, headed by coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet (women's team) and coach Tran Dinh Tien (men's team). Increasing the number of players called up to the national team helps the two coaches have more personnel options, from which they can screen and select the strongest squad to prepare professionally for international tournaments.
For women's volleyball, the current resources of the team mainly come from the national championship. Basically, players from the 8 women's teams participating in the 2025 national championship will have more opportunities to participate in the team because they compete in the highest professional playground for domestic clubs.
Many key players are also spread out in teams such as LPB Ninh Binh, Information Corps, VTV Binh Dien Long An...
In 2025, with main striker Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (VTV Binh Dien Long An) returning to the domestic arena and middle striker Tran Thi Bich Thuy (Duc Giang Chemicals) playing impressively at the Korean national volleyball championship, the personnel of the Vietnamese women's team is predicted to have new changes and many prospects.
According to the plan, the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team will train at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his students will gather from April (after the end of phase 1 of the 2025 National Championship and the 2025 Hung Vuong Cup).
Be careful with the target
2025 continues to be a busy time for the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team. One of the most important arenas is the 33rd SEA Games, which will take place in December in Thailand.
After coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team achieved impressive results in 2023 and 2024, the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Department of Physical Training and Sports specifically considered and assigned the target for the Vietnamese girls to reach the finals of this year's congress and win the Gold Medal.
This is a huge pressure for the Vietnamese Women's Volleyball Team. We have never won a Gold Medal at the SEA Games because we have always lost to the number 1 opponent in the region, Thailand, in the final match. In addition to this formidable opponent, Vietnam also has to overcome other teams that have made a significant mark in recent times, such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet once said: “The gap between Vietnamese volleyball and Thai volleyball is getting closer. Hopefully, at the 33rd SEA Games next year, if there is enough force, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team will play on equal terms with Thailand right on Thai soil.”
Most likely, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet will have the best players in his hands with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Nguyen Thi Trinh... However, the players have to be careful to improve their skills. One of them is the first step problem.
Speaking to Lao Dong, former athlete Bui Thi Nga - who was the captain of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team for many years - commented: "The Vietnamese girls have made remarkable progress. Therefore, the goal of winning gold at the 33rd SEA Games is completely feasible. However, players need to pay attention to the issue of taking the first step and mentality. Thailand is quite similar to Vietnam in terms of physique and physical strength, but the ability to take the first step and courage are the things they are excelling at. If we can improve this, along with more effort from each individual and a little luck, I believe the Vietnamese team will make a surprise at this year's tournament."
