The appearance of middle blocker Dao Thi Nhung in the Xi Mang Long Son Thanh Hoa jersey in the first round of the 2026 National Volleyball Championship is not just a simple force addition. It is also the story of an athlete who has gone through many crossroads, and then chose to return and compete with everything he has.
On the field, Dao Thi Nhung of the present is not noisy, but always stands out because of her energy and fighting spirit. Every jump, every hit shows a very clear determination.
In the first round of the national league, wearing the jersey to play for Thanh Hoa made me both emotional and excited. Every time I step onto the field, I remind myself to play my best, win points for the team, and dedicate good plays to the fans," Dao Thi Nhung expressed.
Born in 1993, with a height of 1m82, Dao Thi Nhung was once a promising face of Vietnamese women's volleyball. From the age of 17, she was called up to the youth levels, and then soon approached the national team.
However, unlike many colleagues who grew up from large "furnaces", Nhung has been attached to the Ho Chi Minh City women's team for many years - a team that does not have many investment conditions, causing her career to somewhat stagnate.
Not only that, she is also known for her outstanding appearance, once likened to a "model on the football field". Even, Nhung once faced the opportunity to switch to catwalk, but in the end chose to stay with volleyball.
That is a pivotal choice and also an affirmation of this middle blocker's love for the ball.
Last season, when the Ho Chi Minh City women's team did not achieve the desired results and was relegated, a turning point came again. Dao Thi Nhung received an invitation to join Thanh Hoa - a new environment, many challenges but also opening up opportunities to rebuild. And she did not take long to prove her worth.
She said: "I think it's not different because each team has its own tactics. I only cherish each point in each match. Whether it's me or my teammates scoring points, I will always play with that spirit.
Dao Thi Nhung's return is not an immediate explosion, but a process starting again from almost zero: "I practice again from the most basic things, not in a hurry. In addition to expertise, I focus on physical strength, diet, and rest. The most important thing is to keep my spirits relaxed.
At an age that is no longer young for a volleyball player, she clearly understands her limits. However, instead of considering it a barrier, Dao Thi Nhung turns it into motivation.
Behind the court, she is also a mother, a wife, roles that require balance in life and work.
There is definitely pressure, but I see it as more motivation. Family is a very big rear, helping me feel secure in competing," Nhung shared.
In the Thanh Hoa team, the middle blocker born in 1993 does not put herself in the center. For her, volleyball is always a team story: "In the team, every link is important. This is a team sport, so the biggest thing is how to make the whole team play best.
Throughout her time attached to volleyball, Dao Thi Nhung shared that there were times when she thought about stopping, when age and everyday worries weighed heavily, but then, she still chose to return to the court.
If in the past, people mentioned Dao Thi Nhung with her outstanding appearance, now, what she wants to keep is the image of a dedicated athlete.
No longer a story of potential or expectations, Dao Thi Nhung's journey at this time is a process of perseverance. And in Thanh Hoa's jersey, she is continuing her story with each point, each ball, and with her own passion that has never faded.
