At the end of May, tennis player Le Dinh Duc contributed greatly to the two gold medals of the T&T People's Police Club (CAND T&T) at the 2025 National Table Tennis Championship in the men's doubles and men's team events. This is the first time the CAND T&T Club has won the national men's team championship.
Paralyzed at 13
12 years ago, while he was a young athlete of the Hanoi T&T table tennis club, Le Dinh Duc unfortunately contracted ankylosing spondylitis, at risk of paralysis. Sharing with Tuoi Tre, Le Dinh Duc said: "One morning in 2013, I woke up with unusual pain in both my knees.
I thought I was just sore, but after a few days, the pain was so bad that I couldn’t move. Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital diagnosed me with ankylosing spondylitis, which could lead to paralysis if not treated promptly.
I was bedridden for 6 months, unable to walk, my legs were as atrophied as my wrists. During the 6 months in the hospital, all I could do was eat and get injections. Many doctors told me that even if I survived, there was a 90% chance I would not be able to return to professional sports ."
Dinh Duc said he had to receive 5 doses of medicine in 6 months. Each tube of medicine, which is from Russia, costs more than 40 million VND, but he received a 50% discount. However, the amount of more than 20 million VND per tube of medicine, along with the hospital and treatment fees, is still beyond the ability of Duc's family, who do not have the means.
Mr. Do Quang Hien (Bau Hien) - Chairman of T&T Group - decided to keep Duc at the table tennis club and cover all of Duc's medical expenses. The 6 months in the hospital were the time Dinh Duc struggled with illness, pain, and loneliness that not every teenager has the strength to overcome.
Le Dinh Duc overcame a terminal illness to become one of the best table tennis players in Vietnam - Photo: NVCC
Almost died from anaphylactic shock
Dinh Duc's treatment journey did not go smoothly. After 4 infusions, Duc was able to walk easily and thought he was fine. But the athlete's nightmare suddenly happened at the last dose.
"I went into anaphylactic shock. After receiving the drug, I lay down, and the doctor left for 2 minutes. I felt dizzy and had difficulty breathing. I suddenly remembered the doctors' previous instructions that if I noticed any symptoms, I had to disconnect the infusion valve immediately. I tried to get up to do that, and at the same time called the nurse for help. I had a seizure, struggled for a few minutes, and then fell into a coma," Dinh Duc said.
When Duc woke up, he realized that he was surrounded by more than 20 doctors and nurses. Looking at the happy and worried faces of the people in the room, Duc knew that he had just returned from the dead.
"The doctors said I lost consciousness for nearly 4 hours and told me that out of 100 people who suffer from anaphylactic shock, only 1 survives. Normally, patients go into shock at the first dose, but I went into shock at the last dose. I feel so lucky," Dinh Duc continued.
Six months later, Dinh Duc was discharged from the hospital and returned to the club headquarters. Miraculously, he recovered thanks to a good response to the medication. Duc started light training to get the feel of the ball. While practicing, Duc still had to undergo treatment and receive additional injections to maintain his performance. It took the tennis player another six months to return to professional competition.
Until now, Dinh Duc still lives with the disease. He said his legs still sometimes hurt when the weather changes. While practicing, Duc has to have regular check-ups and maintain a scientific diet and lifestyle.
"When I was discharged from the hospital and returned to the club for treatment, I had to inject myself because the doctors didn't always have time. The doctor taught me how to hold the syringe, point out the exact injection site, and I injected myself 2-3 times. Thinking back now, I still don't understand why I had the courage to do that when I was only 13 years old," Dinh Duc said.
The 2025 National Table Tennis Championship is considered a milestone in the comeback journey of the player from Dak Nong. Dinh Duc's two gold medals in the men's doubles and men's team events are not only titles, but also a gift for his will and determination.
Le Dinh Duc overcame a terminal illness to become one of the best table tennis players in Vietnam - Photo: NVCC
Head coach of CAND T&T table tennis club Vu Manh Cuong said: "There was a time when we lost hope, thinking that we would have to send Duc home to his family and not be able to practice anymore. At that time, the club only hoped that Dinh Duc would survive and be able to walk again, but no one thought he could continue to compete.
However, Duc overcame his illness to become the national champion today. Dinh Duc is a true talent of Vietnamese table tennis. If it weren't for the consequences of this terrible disease, Duc would have gone far."
Previously, Le Dinh Duc won the bronze medal in the men's team at the 31st and 32nd SEA Games with the Vietnamese table tennis team. At the age of 26, he is expected to continue contributing to the achievements of the club and Vietnamese table tennis. The main goal is the 33rd SEA Games taking place in Thailand this December.
NGOC LE
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/le-dinh-duc-vuot-qua-benh-tat-de-len-dinh-bong-ban-viet-nam-20250616100147729.htm
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