Ánh Thảo: The shy girl who is the new hope for Vietnamese women's volleyball

30/09/2025 06:45:00 PANDATV

In the Vietnamese women's volleyball world, the name Bùi Thị Ánh Thảo (born 2009, from Hòa Bình) is increasingly recognized as a bright young talent. From a shy girl who cried from homesickness in her early days away from family, Ánh Thảo has now secured a place in the main squad at the National Championship and was even called up to the national team at just 16 years old, a new record in Vietnamese women's volleyball history.

A turning point inspired by family passion

Growing up in the countryside, Ánh Thảo became familiar with the volleyball early on by often watching matches with her parents and older brother. Taller than her peers, her family enrolled her in several local clubs. The turning point came when her brother found the Hanoi Club’s recruitment notice and signed her up. "Fortunately, I got accepted into the club," Ánh Thảo recalls.

That decision was also a big challenge for the family. "Our family only knows academics, no volleyball background. My brother said, just let her go study in Hanoi, if she has the chance, great; if not, she can come back. But she liked it and was determined to go," said Mrs. Hà Thị Thựi, Thảo’s mother.

Joining the club at a young age, Thảo often cried and called her parents many times asking to come home. Mr. Bùi Văn Diệu, Thảo’s father, shared: "She only comes home once a month. Sometimes seeing her bruised hands and feet or when she was sick without her parents nearby was very painful."

From a shy girl who often "cried easily," Thảo gradually grew stronger through each training session. Mrs. Thựi revealed: "She is much stronger now, very different from when she was at home."

Making her mark at the national championship

In 2024, at just 15 years old, Ánh Thảo made her first appearance at the national championship. The mix of nervousness and excitement came from the chance to compete against experienced seniors. Despite her youth, Thảo quickly impressed with her passionate playing spirit.

At 16, Ánh Thảo (right) was called up to the national team and became the new hope for Vietnamese volleyball. Photo: Hải Đường

Teammates at Hanoi Club and Vietnam U21 praised Thảo’s many talents. Setter Vi Thị Yến Nhi said: "Thảo is still young but has a great fighting spirit and playing style, only lacking experience in handling situations cleverly." Meanwhile, Lê Lê Bách Hợp was impressed by the young player’s responsibility and solid ball control.

Opposite hitter Đinh Thị Thúy, a senior at LPBank Ninh Bình where Thảo was loaned to play, also saw herself 10 years ago in Thảo’s image: "Thảo still needs to be faster to keep up with the fast-paced play, but her fiery spirit is highly commendable."

In April 2025, Ánh Thảo was called to the national team at age 16, becoming the youngest player ever to wear the Vietnamese women's national jersey, surpassing the records of Kim Huệ and Ngọc Hoa. This rapid progress confirms the exceptional potential of the young girl from Hòa Bình.

Thảo had already made a mark on the international youth stage: at the 2024 VTV9 Bình Điền Cup, she scored 15 points in a match against the Japanese club PFU Blue Cats, earning praise from international media. At the U20 Asian Championship, Ánh Thảo and the Vietnam team ranked 5th, opening the door to the U21 World Championship.

Growing through challenges

When asked about her feelings playing for LPBank Ninh Bình, Thảo honestly said: "I was very surprised and a bit worried about leaving Hanoi to play for a stronger team. But that made me focus more, be serious, and work harder."

On the court, Ánh Thảo is an energetic opposite hitter, daring to spike and sacrifice. Off the court, she is rather quiet and somewhat introverted. "She is shy with the older sisters, but with friends her age, she is very cheerful and playful," Yến Nhi revealed.

At 16, Ánh Thảo is just beginning her journey. She still has many things to improve: stamina, reading game situations, agility to keep up with the fast play of strong teams. But clearly, the emergence of a young face full of ambition, maturing early through hardships, brings hope to Vietnamese women's volleyball for the next generation.

"I will do my best to deserve the trust of my coaches and help the team achieve the highest results. That is my biggest motivation right now," Ánh Thảo shared.

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