Vietnamese Women's Milestone

The FIVB Women 's Volleyball World Championship has traditionally been dominated by Europe and South America. Italy , Serbia, Brazil, the United States , Russia (currently banned from participating) ... are always in the group competing for the championship.

At this year's tournament, held in Thailand ( August 22 - September 7 ) , Asian representatives also entered the playground with new confidence.

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Vietnamese women bring new wind to the world tournament

Japan, China, and Thailand are still the “flagship leaders”, and for the first time in history, Vietnam is present – ​​a milestone that means more than just an achievement.

At the Asian level, Japan (3-time champions 1962, 1967, 1974) is still considered the team with the highest stability. In 2022, they reached the semi-finals of the World Championship and showed their ability to challenge top European opponents.

China, after its golden age – winning the championship in 1982 and 1986 – still maintains its position as a strong candidate, despite its inconsistent performance.

Thailand, with a generation of talented players, has proven that they are not only a "big guy" in Southeast Asia but also capable of competing equally with the top 8 teams in the world.

In that picture, the appearance of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team opens a new chapter.

From being only familiar with participating in regional arenas such as SEA Games or Asian Games, Vietnamese women's team won the right to participate in the World Championship for the first time - the result of many years of persistently building up the force and investing.

Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team are in Group G with Poland, Germany and Kenya. The chance of advancing is very narrow, but just being in Thailand is a historic step.

The match against Kenya is considered the “final” of Vietnam in the group stage. This is the closest opponent in terms of level and the most realistic opportunity for coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet’s team to seek victory at the world tournament.

If it can be done, it will be a truly symbolic feat, and mark the beginning of Vietnam being mentioned on the world volleyball map.

Compared to Thailand, Vietnamese women's volleyball is still at a significant distance, from physique, technical tactics to international experience.

Not everyone is at the top from the start. History has seen Thais start from a similar position, then rise strongly thanks to perseverance and talented athletes.

Question for FIVB

Vietnam women currently have a promising young generation, with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy as the main hitter, who made an impression in the SEA V.League – with a historic win over Thailand. The lessons learned when entering the world tournament will be a valuable foundation for the future.

On a broader scale, Vietnam's presence also enriches the story of Asia at the tournament.

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Vietnam team and Asian representatives want to assert themselves

Instead of just a few traditional teams, the region now has a Vietnamese women's team looking for a chance to assert itself.

That raises the question: is the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) willing to provide additional support mechanisms, such as fairer prize distribution, or invest in developing the training system, so that Asia is not left alone?

The 2025 World Championship is therefore not only a place to determine the champion, but also a test for the ambition to globalize volleyball.

If Asia – with Japan , China , Thailand and Vietnam – can make its mark, the sport 's appeal will expand dramatically into the world's most populous market.

On the contrary, if the gap remains too large, women's volleyball risks maintaining the "monopoly" status of Europe and South America.

For Vietnam, the rewards in this tournament may not come from money – which is concentrated in the championship group – but from experience and opportunity.

A beautiful play, a brave match or a victory against Kenya can be the motivation for the next generation to be more confident.

Asia needs more stories like this to prove it is more than just a follower.

The presence of Vietnam is an affirmation: the journey of Asian volleyball has never belonged only to Japan or Thailand.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bong-chuyen-nu-the-gioi-tuyen-nu-bong-chuyen-viet-nam-sanh-vai-doi-manh-chau-a-2434449.html