Vietnam Women's Volleyball at Asiad 20: When the Wings Break, Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet Must Patch the Squad Amid the Storm

The stadium is never silent, only our hearts stop counting the beat.

In the final group-stage match of the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, on a court in China, veteran outside hitter Nguyen Thi Uyen collapsed to her knees after a first-pass attempt. The sound of the ball hitting her arms, the teammates' gasps, everything seemed to muffle. Uyen had to leave the court, and with her, likely the rest of the tournament. That was the moment the coaching staff realized that the Asiad 20 dream was beginning to slip away.

Vietnam's women's volleyball entered 2026 with high expectations. After a silver medal at the 33rd SEA Games, the team under head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet had built a style based on solid reception and multi-point attacking power. Among them, Nguyen Thi Uyen was the most reliable 'sweeper' in the first-pass phase, while Vi Thi Nhu Quynh was the option to share the scoring burden with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. They were the two pillars, the two most important wings of the team. However, at the Asian Championship held just before Asiad, both were absent: Nhu Quynh due to health reasons, and Uyen suffered a serious injury during a match in China.

The double loss and the seemingly unsolvable puzzle

Right from the squad selection for the Asian Championship, Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet only brought four outside hitters, including two girls aged just 17 and 18: Bui Thi Anh Thao and Pham Quynh Huong. It was a risky decision, but understandable in the context of Vietnam's shortage of outside hitters. But the risk became reality when Uyen got injured. The team was left with only three outside hitters, including Thanh Thuy, who is nearly 30 but still the spearhead in both skill and spirit, and two young girls who have never experienced the pressure of an Asian Games.

According to statistics from recent international tournaments, Thanh Thuy often handles over 35% of the team's attacking plays. When Nhu Quynh is present, this rate drops to about 28%, thanks to her scoring ability from the opposite position. Nhu Quynh's absence means Thanh Thuy has to bear more pressure, and opponents at the Asian level will focus their blocks on her. Meanwhile, Uyen is not only good at defense but also stretches the block because of her sharp attacking ability from the back row.

With two young players, their international experience is almost zero. Pham Quynh Huong, 18, has only played in a few youth tournaments in the region. Bui Thi Anh Thao, 17, has never faced heavy serves like those of Japan or Thailand. This immaturity will be a fatal weakness in the reception phase, where one mistake gives the opponent an easy point.

The whirlpool of the 12-player roster

What makes the puzzle more difficult is the regulation that allows only 12 players to be registered for Asiad 20, while the Asian Championship allowed 14. This means Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet must cut one player, despite the lineup already being too thin. He can add an outside hitter, but who deserves it? Candidates mentioned such as Đinh Thi Thuy (LPBank Ninh Binh), Nguyen Thi Phuong (Binh chung Thong tin), Pham Thi Nguyet Anh, Hoang Hong Hanh, Do Lai Yen Nhi, or Tran Tu Linh all have inconsistent performances.

Đinh Thi Thuy was disappointing at the Asian Women's Volleyball Cup, averaging just 7 points per match with an attack efficiency of less than 35%. Nguyen Thi Phuong and Pham Thi Nguyet Anh occasionally shine in club colors but fade in major tournaments. None of them have proven their mettle in the harsh environment of the Asian Games.

Which way out for Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet?

From a tactical perspective, having only three healthy outside hitters forces the team to shift to a proactive defensive style, prioritizing blocking and reception rather than wing attacks. This might help them stay competitive against stronger teams, but it sacrifices the diversity in offense. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet was once famous for building a fast, multi-point attack system, but with the current lineup, he must accept the reality: only relying on Thanh Thuy and second-tempo plays. Is this a waste of the young girls' talent?

There is another perspective: the absence of key players could be an opportunity for young players to gain experience. They will learn a lot when facing top continental teams. Thanh Thuy taking on more responsibility is also a chance for her to prove her leadership qualities. But is it worth sacrificing the results of an Asian Games? In the context of Vietnam's women's volleyball craving for a historic mark, the answer is probably no.

When the heart knows no fear

I have followed the team for many years. I once witnessed Thanh Thuy cry after losing to China in the semifinal of a tournament, and I understand that for her, every tournament is a battle for survival. But what makes me most confident is the resilience of Vietnamese girls. They never give up, even when everything is against them.

Seeing young players like Pham Quynh Huong and Bui Thi Anh Thao for the first time in the starting lineup reminds me of a sentence I often write in my biographies: 'She doesn't chase the ball; she runs toward the version of herself she once dreamed of.' They may stumble, they may make mistakes, but they are learning, day by day, hour by hour in the harshest environment.

Asiad 20 – where dreams are measured

The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. This is not only a competition of Asia's top teams but also an opportunity for Vietnam's women's volleyball to assert its status. With a patched-up squad, the chance of advancing deep is very slim. However, looking at the history of Vietnamese volleyball, they always know how to create miracles. From qualifying for the World Championship for the first time in 2026 to winning the SEA Games gold medal in 2026, they have proven that nothing is impossible.

The question is whether Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet is brave enough to trust the young players or will choose the safe option by recalling an old face despite poor form. This is the moment a coach's courage is tested.

More than a competition

Away from tactical numbers, I realize that Asiad 20 for the Vietnamese women's team is not just a tournament. It is a symbol of overcoming adversity, of the spirit of not succumbing to fate. When two pillars break, young wings must find their own path to fly. They may not reach the peak, but they will learn how to fly.

'I write biographies for women who don't know they are legends.' That sentence also applies to them. These young girls may not know that they are writing a page of history, even if it is just a small line in the history of Vietnamese women's volleyball. They are fighting not only for themselves but also for previous generations, for the fans who always believe.

And when the ball touches their hands, the whistle blows, all worries and calculations disappear. Only the desire to play, to contribute, to win remains. The stadium is never silent, only our hearts stop counting the beat. Let the heart continue to beat wildly with every ball of the Vietnamese girls at the upcoming Asiad.