The Vietnamese women's volleyball team will participate in the 2025 World Championship without the service of Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen. The 2000-born setter withdrew at the last minute for personal reasons.
Fans have the right to regret the lack of a quality hitter for the Vietnam women's team, especially when Bich Tuyen is one of the pillars throughout the 2-year journey of the home team. However, the team still has another important factor that can take on the role of "conductor", which is Tran Thi Thanh Thuy.
Returning to the AVC Challenge Cup 2023 (now AVC Nations Cup), the Vietnam women's team marked its return to the championship for the first time in Asia. The squad under coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet at that time also did not have the participation of Bich Tuyen.
One of the most outstanding players was Tran Thi Thanh Thuy with great contributions to the championship of her home team. The excellent performance of the main striker born in 1997 was voted the Best Player of the tournament (MVP) by the Asian Volleyball Federation, and also brought home the Best Main Striker title.
In the past 2 years, Thanh Thuy's performance has been somewhat affected by various injuries. However, the female athlete from Binh Duong (old) always tries to return to her best version.
A year ago, Thanh Thuy was not the top scorer, but her role as a leader was huge. At many times, Thanh Thuy always regained her spirit to help her teammates achieve excitement.
This year, at AVC Nations Cup 2025, VTV Cup and most recently SEA V.League 2025, although she is no longer a No. 1 point-hunting player, Thanh Thuy still plays an important role in the playing style of the Vietnam women's team.
The above data shows that Thanh Thuy is always a strategic card of coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet in all circumstances. Therefore, after Bich Tuyen withdrew from the world tournament, the coaching staff of the Vietnam women's team has developed a new personnel plan, adding Thanh Thuy to the opposite position.
Before the tournament, coach Tuan Kiet said: "Previously, Thanh Thuy played as an opposite setter. We will calculate each specific match, and can put Thuy in the above position, but depending on her professional situation."
In the opening match against Poland, Thanh Thuy played the role of a main striker as well as a first-step and defensive player before pushing the ball for Vi Nhu Quynh or Kieu Trinh to score. In some cases, she even defended steadily and saved more than libero.
Thanh Thuy, in addition to ensuring her expertise, also promotes the competitive spirit of her teammates, conveying information from the coaching staff when needed.
In the opening match, the captain of the Vietnam women's team scored 9 points, the second most and behind Nhu Quynh (20 points).
This change also opens up an opportunity for Thanh Thuy to comprehensively demonstrate her abilities, thereby helping the Vietnam women's team increase flexibility and meet the harsh requirements of a world-class tournament.
This is also an important stepping stone for Thanh Thuy to prepare her luggage for her upcoming trip abroad.
