Vietnam should have been celebrating – for the first time in history, the women's national team earned the right to participate in the World Volleyball Championship (August 22 – September 7 in Phuket). Instead, the team traveled to Thailand with an atmosphere marked by scandals and doubts.

The "Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen" case

One of the country's most recognizable volleyball players – outside hitter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen – announced her retirement literally hours before departure. The Federation tried to downplay the situation, speaking of "personal reasons," but the player's own words on social media pointed to another problem:

"It's not about wanting to play, but about the new requirements imposed by FIVB, which I consider opaque and unfair."

Her absence means that Vietnam will play with 13 instead of 14 players and with only one opposite hitter – Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh. This was noted by Thai media as a major blow to the team's chances.

Sanctions at U21

Almost in parallel, another case hit the reputation of Vietnamese volleyball. At the U21 Women's World Championship in Indonesia, FIVB sanctioned the team due to the participation of an "ineligible" player under Article 12.2 of the disciplinary regulations. All victories with her participation were annulled, and the team was removed from the Round of 16, remaining between 17th–24th place.

The newspaperJakarta Globeeven reported that it was not just one, but two players, with Dang Thi Hong's sexual identity at the center of the investigation.

The Parallel and Consequences

In both cases, the core issue is a problem with gender rules and their application. In the youth category, FIVB penalized for violations, and in the women's national team, the leading player refused to participate precisely due to doubts about the transparency of the new regulations.

The result is a "short circuit" that puts enormous pressure on the team on the eve of their historic debut. And Vietnam's group is not easy at all – their opponents are Poland, Germany, and Kenya.

Instead of being a celebration for Vietnamese sports, the World Championship has become an arena for disputes over identity, rules, and fairness. Whether these problems will remain temporary or will have long-term consequences for the development of volleyball in Vietnam – remains to be seen.

photo:inquirer.net