10:01, 07/01/2021

Expectations on young volleyball athletes

The recently-announced roster of Vietnam's national indoor volleyball male team preparing for the 31st SEA Games held in Vietnam includes many young athletes who have been called up to the national team for the first time. These young athletes are expected to bring new wind to Vietnam's volleyball.
 

The recently-announced roster of Vietnam’s national indoor volleyball male team preparing for the 31st SEA Games held in Vietnam includes many young athletes who have been called up to the national team for the first time. These young athletes are expected to bring new wind to Vietnam’s volleyball.
 
The national indoor volleyball male team assembles from January 4 to March 3 at Hanoi National Sports Training Center to prepare for the 31st SEA Game hosted by Vietnam. Most of the 18 athletes called up this time are the familiar outstanding faces of the local strong teams namely defending champion Sanest Khanh Hoa (four athletes), runner-up Ho Chi Minh City (four athletes), Trang An Ninh Binh (three athletes), Bien Phong (two athletes), etc. Apart from the excellent athletes that are considered indispensable ones of the national team, for example, Tu Thanh Thuan, Huynh Trung Truc, Giang Van Duc, Nguyen Van Hoc, Nguyen Thanh Hai, and Pham Thai Hung, some young athletes join the national team for the first time.
 
 
Nguyen Ngoc Thuan (in white jersey, hitting the ball) performing excellently at national championship final round
Nguyen Ngoc Thuan (in white jersey, hitting the ball) performing excellently at national championship final round
In the final round of the national volleyball championship ended recently, Border team showed an impressive performance besides Sanest Khanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City. Border got through the semi-finals and was highly appreciated for the marvelous performances of their quality young talent. Nguyen Ngoc Thuan (born in 1999, 1.93m high) and Pham Van Hiep (born in 2000, 1.9m high) were the most excellent athletes of Border at the 2020 national championship. Their remarkable performances helped them to be called up to the national team for the first time.
 
The selected coaching board is also expected to help Vietnam’s national volleyball male team to play well at the 31st SEA Games. The head coach of Vietnamese team at this regional tournament is Chinese expert Li Huan Ninh. He used to lead China’s junior and national volleyball teams to high positions at Asian tournaments. Li Huan Ninh also coached Vietnam’s junior team some years ago. The assistant coaches of Vietnam this time are the ones with good coaching expertise of the local clubs namely Border, Ho Chi Minh City, and Trang An Ninh Binh.
 
With the joining of young talent together with the most excellent athletes instructed by competent coaches, hopefully, Vietnam’s national volleyball male team will display better play and can improve their position at SEA Games 2021. 
 
An Nhien
Translated by H.N