Female athlete Nguyen Bich Thuy and her intense love for the national flag

540630856-1973784230129247-1776633472551411156-n-501-8300.jpg

After the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship ended, Nguyen Bich Thuy returned to training with Thai Nguyen T&T, preparing for the National Women's Football Championship - Thai Son Bac Cup 2025. Last season, Thai Nguyen T&T finished third with only 3 points less than the champion Ho Chi Minh City I. With the goal of qualifying for the Asian Women's C1 Cup in the 2025-2030 period, Bich Thuy and her teammates are determined to create a special season.

Therefore, although she really wanted to, Bich Thuy could not take to the streets to join in the festive atmosphere, when the whole country was jubilantly celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

"On the national festival day, all hearts beat together. Although I did not have the opportunity to join the crowd in the A80 event, I still turned to Ba Dinh with pride. It is difficult to describe in words my feelings these days. Everywhere I see flags and flowers, my heart is also excited," Bich Thuy told Tien Phong newspaper reporter.

Bich Thuy has a strong love for the red flag with yellow star.

Before National Day, on her personal Facebook page, Bich Thuy shared an emotional status, saying "Among thousands of things to be proud of, there is a pride called Vietnam", along with pictures of her waving the national flag.

It can be said that Bich Thuy has a strong love for the red flag with yellow star, the immortal symbol of independence, freedom and the aspiration to reach far of the Vietnamese people. Every time she scores a goal, she always beats her left hand on her chest and points to the national flag printed on it. Or after matches or tournaments, Bich Thuy will run along the field with the national flag in her hand, then plant it on the grass and look at it proudly.

Until now, even though she has played 82 matches for the National Women's Team and participated in all competitions, from SEA Games, Asian Cup to World Cup, from Southeast Asia, Asia to the world , the girl from Quang Ngai is still always moved when the national flag is raised and the national anthem is sung.

"Even though I have stood in front of the red flag with a yellow star hundreds of thousands of times, my emotions are still the same. My heart beats with pride and my whole body gets goosebumps," Bich Thuy shared. "I still remember the memory of 2023 when I played with the Vietnamese women's team at the World Cup. Singing the national anthem on a grand stage, where the whole world is watching, is an unforgettable experience. I was extremely proud and loved my country so much. At that time, I just closed my eyes and enjoyed that moment, singing the national anthem loudly as if I wanted everyone to hear it."

She continued: "Or recently at the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship, the moment the huge flag was unfurled on the Lach Tray stands, I and tens of thousands of spectators sang the national anthem together, which will surely last a lifetime. The familiar and majestic melodies made me feel happy to be Vietnamese, fighting for the colors of the Fatherland."

This also explains why this little girl has such extraordinary strength, can move tirelessly and play with a spirit of never giving up, fighting until the last minute. Like in the semi-final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship against U23 Australia, facing an opponent superior in class and physique, Bich Thuy still kept running to tirelessly look for opportunities.

Bich Thuy fights her way through the siege of U23 Australia defenders. (Photo: Trong Hieu)

"That match the team faced many difficulties and conceded two early goals, but my teammates and I were determined to play with more than 100% of our ability, giving everything we had to leave the field with our heads held high, and at the same time be able to proudly look up at the national flag above," said the striker who scored 21 goals for the Vietnamese women's team.

Bich Thuy revealed that she had noticed the big flag on the B stand of Lach Tray stadium since the qualifying matches, then set a goal of scoring in the semi-final match and turned towards that direction to celebrate. Finally, her determination to "have to score no matter what" was realized.

In the 88th minute, Bich Thuy rushed down like an arrow on the right wing to receive a long pass from the back line. Her first touch also eliminated the U23 Australia defender, opening up space for her to enter the penalty area. There, Bich Thuy fired a decisive left-footed shot into the near corner, defeating the opposing goalkeeper and scoring an honorable goal for the Vietnam women's team.

Bich Thuy celebrates a goal in the match against U23 Australia.

As planned, Bich Thuy immediately ran towards the giant national flag and performed the flag salute. Unfortunately, the rush of time forced her to return early, and also because the moment of celebration happened so quickly, no photographer had time to capture it.

But one thing is for sure, it will be kept forever in the mind of Bich Thuy as well as the fans. And a similar moment will soon be created in the future, because the star of the Vietnam Women's National Team and Thai Nguyen T&T never stops wanting to score goals, wanting to win.

Of course, the national flag will always follow, keeping the Bich Thuy flame burning brightly with the pride of Vietnamese blood and Vietnamese aspirations.