Hanoi, 28 August, 2025 – The preparations of the Vietnam women’s volleyball team for the upcoming SEA Games 33 have encountered an important hurdle regarding the participation of star outside hitter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. Head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet confirmed that the team’s captain and key scorer will only be able to join the squad shortly before the tournament begins in Bangkok, Thailand.
Speaking about the situation, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet revealed: “The Vietnam women’s volleyball team are expected to hold their second training camp at the end of October after the conclusion of the 2025 National Championship. However, we will face difficulties in this preparation period because Tran Thi Thanh Thuy will be competing in Japan at that time and can only return to join the national team about one week before we depart for the SEA Games. She is a very important player for us.”
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, widely regarded as the best player of Vietnamese women’s volleyball, will head to Japan at the end of September to play for Gunma Green Wings in the Japan V.League Women’s Championship, which begins on October 10. As the SEA Games is not part of the official FIVB calendar, foreign clubs are under no obligation to release players for national team duty.
This created a potential conflict, but thanks to coordination between the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV), Tran Thi Thanh Thuy herself, and her Japanese club, an agreement has been reached to allow her participation at the regional multi-sport event. Despite joining late, the captain’s presence is expected to significantly boost Vietnam’s chances of competing for gold.
The volleyball competition at the SEA Games 33 will feature both men’s and women’s indoor events, hosted in Bangkok, Thailand. According to the provisional schedule, the women’s tournament will take place from December 10 to December 15, 2025, while the men’s tournament is slated from December 13 to December 19. The final list of participating teams has not yet been officially announced by the organizers.
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy’s availability has always been a decisive factor for Vietnam’s medal prospects. Standing 1.93m tall, she combines power, height, and international experience, having played professionally in Japan, China, and Turkey. Her return from club duty, even if only days before the SEA Games, is seen as vital to the team’s performance.
For Vietnam, women’s volleyball remains one of the most anticipated disciplines at the SEA Games. With strong rivals such as Thailand, the defending regional powerhouse, and the Philippines also improving steadily, the presence of Thanh Thuy could determine whether Vietnam can achieve its long-standing dream of winning SEA Games gold in women’s volleyball.
As the countdown begins, fans will be closely watching both the domestic preparations and Thanh Thuy’s schedule in Japan, with hopes that the national team will rise to the occasion in Bangkok this December.
Tra My – To Uyen
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