For Nguyen Le Quynh Chi, the journey to martial arts is not only measured by the number of medals in the glass cabinet.
When asked to sketch her career with an image, the female martial artist born in 2002 did not choose the moment of standing on the podium of the most brilliant glory. She chose old images, realistic footage recording each stage of arduous training.
Looking back at those images, I see that I have truly matured. I see again what I have experienced, the sweat and blood on the training floor to have a career like today," Quynh Chi confided.
Silent hidden corners
In the early days of coming to Pencak Silat, Quynh Chi was very unfamiliar, even skeptical about the path she had chosen. However, amidst countless harsh moments of the martial arts profession, what kept her was the image of teacher-student relationship.
For many people, the reason to stick with a sport is passion or achievement. But for Chi, it is the understanding and guidance of a teacher.
Maybe it's a bit different, but that's an image I will always remember and never forget," she shared.
That sacred connection is not only a teaching and learning relationship, but also a spiritual support to help her overcome early psychological barriers when entering the professional sports path.
The journey of a top athlete has never been full of roses. The biggest price that Quynh Chi has to pay is the separation from her family. Living in a military-concentrated environment, in moments of weakness, fatigue or the most pressure, she does not allow herself to show herself outside.
Many times I miss home, I'm so tired that I want to cry, but I don't dare to call my family to tell them, because I'm afraid people will worry," Chi confided.
The peak of the challenge was the times facing injuries and failures. Chi recounted an incident when she did not perform successfully and suffered an injury, leading to not completing the set target.
At that time, disappointment in herself pushed her into negative thoughts. There have been many times when the young girl thought about stopping, giving up her martial arts career to switch to a more peaceful direction.
Martial arts" bravery and a historic moment in the UAE
To overcome matches with unstable moods, Quynh Chi trained herself with a steel spirit with the motto: "One is to be beaten, two is to be beaten".
The aura from the set goal and the desire to touch the medal is the motivation to help her overcome fear.
The most memorable memory, and also the most beautiful mark in her career to date, is the gold medal at the World Championships held in 2024 in the UAE. However, few people know that not long before that tournament, Quynh Chi suffered a very serious knee injury and had to be hospitalized for treatment.
At that time, I fell into crisis, cried a lot because I thought I had lost the opportunity to participate in the world tournament. But at that moment, the teacher-student relationship once again held her back," Chi said.
The encouragement from the national team coaching staff and teachers at Ha Tinh unit has helped her revive her spirit. After 3 months of miraculous recovery efforts, Chi not only returned to competition but also reached the final with a strong will: "We must do it, we must let the Vietnamese flag fly in the international arena".
Even more special, the day she stepped onto the highest podium to receive the gold medal was also the anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army. That victory was not only a personal achievement, but also the most meaningful gift she dedicated to the colors of the flag and the tradition of "children of martial arts".
On the ring, the audience sees a cold, fierce Quynh Chi in every blow. But when she takes off her martial arts uniform, she returns to being a GenZ girl in the true sense, feminine, who likes to be beautiful and is sometimes weak.
Looking back at the ups and downs of the past journey, Quynh Chi affirmed that what makes her most proud is not the sparkling gold medals in the glass cabinet, but the fact that she has defeated herself.
I am proud that I have never given up, still fighting my best for the colors of the flag. Being a martial artist, you must fight like a true warrior," Chi affirmed.
Nguyen Le Quynh Chi's journey is still ongoing. And with the spirit of a warrior who has gone through many storms, she will surely bring more glory to the country's sports, continuing the story of the aspiration of a Ha Tinh girl.
