Outside hitter Thanh Thúy broke down in tears after a heartbreaking loss to Thailand

It was truly unfortunate for Trần Thị Thanh Thúy and her teammates in the SEA Games 33 final tonight.

Outside hitter Trần Thị Thanh Thúy couldn’t hold back her tears following a narrow 2-3 defeat to Thailand in the women’s indoor volleyball gold medal match at SEA Games 33 on the evening of December 15th.

As usual, Thanh Thúy was the team’s leader and mainstay for the Vietnamese women’s volleyball squad in international tournaments, especially in crucial matches like this one. The 1997-born outside hitter delivered an outstanding performance with impressive scoring ability, helping Vietnam maintain a tight contest against Thailand.

It was unfortunate that during the final play of the 5th set, the home player executed a very sharp and clever service ace, leading Vietnam to lose after an intense “shootout” sequence.

Thanh Thúy and opposite hitter Hoàng Thị Kiều Trinh then sobbed uncontrollably on the players’ bench, a scene that deeply moved many Vietnamese fans.

Trần Thị Thanh Thúy first participated in the SEA Games with the Vietnamese women’s volleyball team in 2015, at just 18 years old. After a decade competing at the Games, Thanh Thúy has become an irreplaceable player, helping the team win 5 silver medals and 1 bronze.

This recent match was the clearest chance for Vietnam to upgrade their medal color — it was the first time we pushed Thailand to a 5th set in SEA Games history, but luck still eluded Thanh Thúy and her teammates.