Vietnamese women’s volleyball faces a crisis ahead of Asian Games 20

Vietnam’s women’s volleyball team faces a difficult selection problem before Asian Games 20, with injuries reducing its options among the outside hitters.

The team recently competed at the 2026 Asian Championship in China without its strongest lineup. Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt initially registered 14 players, but the squad was reduced to 13 at the last minute after outside hitter Vi Thị Như Quỳnh suffered health problems.

Vietnam entered the tournament with Trần Thị Thanh Thúy, Nguyễn Thị Uyên and two young players, 18-year-old Phạm Quỳnh Hương and 17-year-old Bùi Thị Ánh Thảo. Nguyễn Thị Uyên then suffered a serious injury during the competition. Như Quỳnh is also likely to miss the Asian Games, leaving the coach with only three outside hitters if Uyên does not recover in time.

The Asian Games roster will contain 12 players, two fewer than the Asian Championship squad. Losing one outside hitter was already almost unavoidable. Now the team must find another player to complete the list. Possible choices include Đinh Thị Thúy of LPBank Ninh Bình, who returned to the national team for the AVC Cup but did not perform strongly, and Nguyễn Thị Phương of Binh chủng Thông tin, a regular selection last year who lost her place before SEA Games 33.

Phạm Thị Nguyệt Anh, also from the military club, could return after several years away. Younger options include Hoàng Hồng Hạnh of Hóa chất Đức Giang Lào Cai and Đỗ Lại Yến Nhi of Geleximco Hưng Yên. The article says both Nguyệt Anh and Nguyễn Thị Phương have shown flashes of strong form domestically this year, but lack consistency.

Fans have also expressed regret over Trần Tú Linh’s continued absence. She offers strong reception and reliable attacking, qualities that helped Vietnam reach the semifinals at the 2023 Asian Championship and Asian Games. A serious injury later kept her from playing regularly and from the national team for an extended period.