The new cycle of volleyball

VHO - After the exciting rounds of domestic leagues, Vietnamese volleyball will enter a new phase as both the men's and women's national teams have convened or are preparing for their first training camp of 2026. This is a crucial period for the coaching staff to review the squad, improve physical fitness, and refine tactics before a series of major international competitions this year.

Competing in numerous domestic and international tournaments continuously presents both opportunities and significant challenges for female athletes. Photo: NHU HUY

Expecting new talents

The Vietnamese men's volleyball team is entering a crucial preparation phase for the 2026 SEA V.League (August) and the 20th Asian Games (September), with high expectations for a new look. The list of 18 players recently announced by coach Tran Dinh Tien not only maintains a core of experienced players but also opens opportunities for a number of young talents to prove themselves.

Familiar faces like Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Dinh Van Duy, Tran Duy Tuyen, Truong The Khai, Pham Quoc Du, and Nguyen Van Quoc Duy continue to be pillars of the team thanks to their experience and international competition skills. However, what has drawn the most attention from experts is the absence of veteran players who have been associated with the national team for many years, such as Pham Van Hiep, Duong Van Tien, and Quan Trong Nghia.

Instead, the coaching staff gave opportunities to many young players who performed outstandingly in the first round of the National Championship and the Hung Vuong Cup 2026, such as opposite hitter Ly Van Chuong, middle blockers Bui Xuan Tien and Dao Xuan Viet, and outside hitter Tang Ngoc Hieu. This is seen as a step demonstrating the determination to rejuvenate the team and create depth for the Vietnamese men's volleyball squad.

Among the players mentioned, Ly Van Chuong is the most highly anticipated after his impressive performance helped Hanoi finish fourth in the first round of the National Championship and qualify for the Hung Vuong Cup 2026. Possessing an ideal height, good jumping ability, and intelligent play, this opposite hitter is considered capable of competing for a position with senior players like Quoc Duy and Quoc Du. In the outside hitter position, the absence of Duong Van Tien and Quan Trong Nghia opens up a great opportunity for Ngoc Hieu to showcase his abilities. He is a promising young player with good jumping ability and a passionate fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, the competition for the middle blocker position also promises to be fierce. Xuan Tien and Xuan Viet will have to put in their best effort to prove their abilities among the experienced players. However, the pressure of competition is also an opportunity for new talents to mature faster.

The bold decision to give opportunities to young players and new talents shows that the Vietnamese men's volleyball team is moving towards a necessary transition in its squad. If this opportunity is well utilized, these new faces could become the foundation for Vietnam's ambitions to reach a higher level in volleyball in the future.

The women's team's fitness challenge

The Vietnamese women's volleyball team will convene at the end of May to prepare for the 2026 AVC Cup, which will take place in early June in the Philippines. The list of 14 players summoned by coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet still includes familiar key players such as Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Thi Uyen, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, Vo Thi Kim Thoa, and Nguyen Khanh Dang. However, this training camp also sees the regrettable absence of setter Lam Oanh, opposite hitter Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, and outside hitter Nguyen Thi Phuong.

Besides the familiar core group, the coaching staff also gave opportunities to many experienced players to return to the team, such as outside hitter Dinh Thi Thuy, opposite hitter Doan Thi Xuan, and middle blocker Ly Thi Luyen. In addition, young setter Vi Thi Yen Nhi and libero Le Thi Yen were also given opportunities to increase the depth of the Vietnamese women's national team in this important competition year.

However, the biggest problem the team is facing is not personnel but rather the issue of physical fitness and player overload. From March to September this year, many national team players had almost no rest, constantly playing for both their clubs and the national team. The packed tournament schedule started with the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup (March 18-23), followed by Round 1 of the National Championship (April 6-19), the Hung Vuong Cup (April 23-26), and then the VTV - Binh Dien Cup (May 15-23).

Immediately after completing their club duties, the players rejoined the national team to participate in the AVC Cup 2026. Following this tournament, the Vietnamese women's national team will also participate in two SEA V.League tournaments (July 30th to August 9th), the Asian Championship (August 21st - 30th) before aiming for the important goal at the ASIAD (September 19th to October 4th).

The demanding schedule forces players to maintain a high level of performance for extended periods. This not only affects their physical condition but also significantly impacts their peak performance. Without proper adjustments, the risk of injury and declining physical condition is very real.

Therefore, the challenge for coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and the coaching staff now is not only to build technical skills but also to allocate resources rationally and rotate personnel effectively to allow key players the necessary recovery time. Combining the experience of veterans with the youthful energy of new players will play a crucial role in the team's journey to conquer international arenas in 2026.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/guong-quay-moi-cua-bong-chuyen-229751.html