Turning point decision

Even the most optimistic people probably did not think that the Vietnamese women's volleyball team could come back against Thailand after losing the first two sets in the final match of the second leg of SEA V-League 2025.

Not only did the Vietnamese girls have technical problems, they also suffered psychologically. The tension and impatience made Bich Tuyen and her teammates' playing style easy for Thailand to predict, making them less effective in attacking and exposing many loopholes behind the defense.

But in the most difficult time, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team did the unbelievable. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team rose up strongly, along with changes in playing style and personnel, completely changing the situation of the match.

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Vi Thi Nhu Quynh entered the field in set 3 to help the home team regain control of the game. Photo: Trung Kien

First, Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's decisions on using players brought high efficiency. Vi Thi Nhu Quynh was sent onto the field in set 3, immediately bringing important points to the home team.

Next, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet made a series of adjustments in the playing style, causing Thailand to no longer maintain the initiative like in the first two sets. The strategist born in 1976 said: "We have a clear change in the defensive system. The highlight is that Bich Tuyen switched to the back row at position 6, instead of position 1 as usual. I also adjusted when I withdrew Thanh Thuy to support the first step. This is a plan to surprise the opponent."

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Thanh Thuy supported step 1 very well. Photo: Trung Kien

But all the adjustments of coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet would hardly bring the desired results if Bich Tuyen and her teammates did not have an excellent match as seen. All of them surpassed their own limits. Bich Tuyen personally scored 45 points, including 2 "closing" points in set 5, bringing a thrilling victory to the Vietnamese women's volleyball team.

After 25 years, we finally beat Thailand, waiting for the SEA Games gold medal

Immediately after defeating Thailand, Bich Tuyen and the female players ran around the field to celebrate, while Thanh Thuy burst into tears of happiness. Winning against Thailand was something too difficult for Vietnamese women's volleyball, but on the evening of August 10, the dominance of the Golden Temple team was ended.

According to statistics, over the past 25 years, the Vietnamese and Thai women's volleyball teams have met more than 40 times, and we have never won. Even during the golden generation with Kim Hue, Ngoc Hoa... the Vietnamese women's volleyball team was completely helpless every time they faced Thailand. In the SEA Games alone, the Thais won 12 gold medals, including 11 final matches against the Vietnamese women's volleyball team.

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With Bich Tuyen, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team is no longer afraid of Thailand. Photo: Trung Kien

However, in the past 2 years, it is a fact that Thai women's volleyball has begun to decline, while Vietnam has gone up, even winning a ticket to the World Cup taking place at the end of August.

From the impressive achievements, and almost winning against Thailand in the most recent meetings, for the first time, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team were assigned the target of winning the SEA Games gold medal.

This task is very difficult because the Thais are still considered to be more skilled, even after just losing in the second round of the SEA V-League, not to mention having home field advantage at the 33rd SEA Games.

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Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet is looking forward to the SEA Games gold medal. Photo: Trung Kien

Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his students also understand that after the loss in the second leg of the SEA V-League, the Thais will definitely prepare carefully to take revenge at the SEA Games.

"After facing Thailand many times and suffering defeat, I see this match as the last chance, an important test for us to prepare for the goal of winning gold medal at the SEA Games.

The coaching staff and athletes all showed their determination and utmost effort. Matches like this are an opportunity to test out strategies and at the same time help the players practice their mettle and competitive mentality," said coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet.

"I believe that today's victory will help the team gain more confidence and maintain their spirit for the SEA Games. However, Thailand will definitely study and prepare very carefully after this defeat," the coach born in 1976 emphasized.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-bong-chuyen-nu-viet-nam-va-hcv-sea-games-khong-con-xa-2430690.html