A stepping stone for Thanh Thúy and Bích Thủy to shine at SEA Games 33

At present, the main pillars of the Vietnam women's volleyball squad, Trần Thị Thanh Thúy and Trần Thị Bích Thủy, are playing in Japan.

Although not listed in the second phase training squad of the Vietnam women's volleyball team, Trần Thị Thanh Thúy and Trần Thị Bích Thủy are still considered indispensable pillars in coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt’s plan for SEA Games 33.

Currently, both are participating in the 2025-2026 Japanese Women's V.League, where they play crucial roles for their respective clubs. Therefore, Thanh Thúy and Bích Thủy have not yet joined the national team’s training camp in Quảng Ninh since October 25.

According to the schedule, this duo will return to Vietnam in early December, about one week before the SEA Games 33 in Thailand.

Head coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt affirmed that the absence of Thanh Thúy and Bích Thủy is only temporary and does not affect the team’s personnel plans. He emphasized that both are key players in Vietnam’s playing style.

In 2025, Thanh Thúy and Bích Thủy have participated in numerous major tournaments such as the AVC Nations Cup, VTV Cup, World Championship, and SEA V.League, where they consistently showed stable performance and contributed significantly to the team’s gameplay.

Specifically, Thanh Thúy, with her extensive international experience, is expected to continue being the main attacker helping Vietnam compete for the gold medal at the upcoming SEA Games.

Meanwhile, middle blocker Bích Thủy has demonstrated clear progress in blocking and wing attacks, becoming a reliable choice in the center position. Two years ago, this duo played a significant role in helping the Vietnam women’s team win the silver medal at SEA Games 32 in Cambodia.

The absence of Nguyễn Thị Bích Tuyền from the second phase training list further highlights Thanh Thúy’s importance. With her high performance and international experience, she is seen as a key figure in coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt’s lineup as Vietnam aims to reach the SEA Games 33 final and compete for gold against host Thailand.