Behind Bich Tuyen's withdrawal from the Vietnamese women's volleyball team

Bich Tuyen's decision made many fans regretful because she was the ace of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team participating in major tournaments in the past 2 years and reaping successes beyond expectations.

As the team prepares to participate in the world arena for the first time in history, the absence of the striker from Vinh Long leaves a big void both professionally and mentally.

Bich Tuyen (10) plays excellently at SEA V.League 2025

On the evening of August 19, Bich Tuyen confided her feelings on her personal Facebook page, explaining the reason for her decision to withdraw from the World Championship. She expressed her deep gratitude to the fans who have always accompanied and supported her as well as the Vietnamese women's volleyball team.

Bich Tuyen recalled a memorable milestone in her career: The historic championship in the second stage of SEA V.League, when Vietnam won the final match against Thailand, for the first time overcoming a strong opponent in any Southeast Asian tournament.

The reason for her withdrawal, according to Bich Tuyen, did not stem from her lack of desire to compete but was related to new regulations from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) regarding the participation conditions of athletes.

She believes that these regulations lack transparency and do not ensure the necessary fairness for athletes.

Bich Tuyen (10) in Vinh Long Television's shirt in 2019 - Photo: Duong Thu

"For Tuyen, sports are not only about competition but also about respect and equality. Tuyen believes that every athlete deserves to compete in a fair environment," she emphasized. To protect her own integrity and avoid unnecessary risks for the team, Bich Tuyen made the decision to withdraw after careful consideration.

Bich Tuyen's "letter" is completely different from the content of the previous announcement that the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) sent out about this athlete requesting to withdraw from the team and not participate in the world tournament due to "personal reasons".

Is there a disagreement between the athletes on duty and the team managers, because "personal reasons" are very different from the "tournament participation regulations"...

Bich Tuyen was once made difficult when she transferred to play for Ninh Binh.

Bich Tuyen's open letter frankly exposed the helplessness of a specific person with personal problems. Meanwhile, VFV's cold announcement did not mention a single line about "the tournament's regulations lacking transparency, not ensuring the necessary fairness for athletes", which was the reason why Bich Tuyen had to withdraw her name.

It should be remembered that the World Championship is being overshadowed by the FIVB itself regarding its decision to punish the Vietnam U21 team, for unclear reasons, whether it is doping, age fraud or gender fraud.

Thousands of comments were made on Bich Tuyen's heartfelt words on her personal page, and the content of the letter from the 2000-born player from Vinh Long also inspired many articles about the current state of Vietnamese volleyball, not only from the recent incident at the U21 World Cup but also from a few years ago.

Bich Tuyen's "heartfelt letter" on her personal page

Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen is a key member of the national team, but what has the Vietnam Volleyball Federation done to protect a girl with many problems in her private life, helping her to wholeheartedly contribute to the national flag?

Since she was a young player of the Vinh Long Television women's team and then became a mainstay in the Ninh Binh Doveco (now LPBank Ninh Binh) team, every year, the home club introduced and the Vietnam Volleyball Federation always issued a competition card to "female athlete" Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen.

Summoned to serve with the Vietnamese team at the 31st SEA Games, striker Bich Tuyen spread fear to many women's teams in the region, including Thailand.

Writer Preechachan Wiriyanupappong of the Asian Volleyball Confederation news site used the phrase "man like" to describe Bich Tuyen's terrible performance and the Thai journalist later had to write an apology to the Vietnamese player, which was posted on the official news site.

Bich Tuyen has been a key member of the Vietnamese team for the past 2 years.

After the 31st SEA Games, Bich Tuyen was continuously discriminated against for her gender, and was even required by the main sponsor of the 2023 National Championship - Duc Giang Chemical Cup to undergo a gender test before being allowed to compete.

Assuming that request was implemented by the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (Bich Tuyen and her home team certainly did not accept), there would not have been a Bich Tuyen - "an important member of the team" as the content of the recent announcement by VFV - dominating the international arena, bringing many glories to the Vietnamese women's team.

In both of the above heartbreaking "incidents", what was the role of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation? Only the tireless involvement of public opinion and the press has helped her to compete on the field since then.

The latest story related to U21 player Dang Thi Hong has not been completely resolved, from FIVB to VFV, so how can Bich Tuyen not feel sad and forced to choose the safest way to protect her own integrity and the team's stability in the upcoming tournament.

Many questions have been raised: Did Bich Tuyen choose the gender she was born into? Did her parents intervene in her daughter's development? Could Bich Tuyen herself even know how she had changed as she grew up, and how it had affected her life and career?

Bich Tuyen does not lack the desire to compete, but will the international volleyball system "forgive" and not "interfere" in the gender control process, which does not have the necessary level of trust for world sports to decide to "entrust their lives"?

Bich Tuyen is attacking the "ethical standards and fairness and transparency" of volleyball.

The two incidents of Imane Khalif and Lin Yu-ting have caused a stir in the 2024 Olympic arena, under the watchful eyes of tens of millions of people, but which side, the International Boxing Association (IBA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the World Boxing Organization (World Boxing), dares to admit that they are right in both their perception and the gender testing process? (The IBA has always maintained that Khalif is male, while the IOC allowed the Algerian boxer to compete in the 2024 Olympic women's boxing tournament despite all warnings, and World Boxing even apologized to Khalif and the Algerian Boxing Federation for the gender testing process).

Bich Tuyen is brave, dares to take responsibility for her own problems and chooses to stand aside to protect herself as well as the image and achievements of the team in the most important historical event of Vietnamese women's volleyball.

Insiders are knowledgeable, sharp, and courageous, but the role of managers really disappoints people a lot.

Vietnamese volleyball is developing strongly and has a direction, but if we do not know how to appreciate and protect the key players, all achievements will become fragile. Athletes are the most valuable assets, but if they do not feel protected, protected and respected, they will lose faith.

Bich Tuyen may have temporarily withdrawn, but Vietnamese volleyball cannot shirk its responsibility. Bich Tuyen's decision to withdraw, although full of regret, is also a reminder to everyone: Sports not only need victory, but also need fairness and respect.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dang-sau-viec-bich-tuyen-rut-ten-khoi-tuyen-bong-chuyen-nu-viet-nam-196250820085047358.htm