Pulled in two directions

Published: 27/04/2009 05:00

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Female volleyball player Dinh Thi Dieu Chau is a star on the Binh Dien Long An and national female volleyball teams. Despite her volleyball fame, however, Chau has always thought she would make a good footballer.

It wasn’t until she was 17 years old that Dinh Thi Dieu Chau, from the Mekong Delta province of Long An, considered a career in sports.

That year, teachers at her school advised Chau to take a sports training course outside of school as she stood 1.76 meters tall, a good height for many sports. Chau took the advice and decided to enroll in a course not often chosen by young females – football.

When she was young, Chau would often watch football matches with her father on TV and was passionate about trying it out herself.

DINH THI DIEU CHAU

Born: December 27, 1983

Is left-handed

Contributed to Binh Dien Long An’s promotion to the national championship category in 2003

Joined the national female volleyball team at age 20

Member of the national team that won the silver medal at the SEA Games in 2003 and 2005

Member of Binh Dien Long An who won silver medal in the national championships in 2006 and 2007, and was runner-up at the Hung Vuong Cup 2009

Currently in her third year at the Central University of Physical Education and Sports II

Long An, however, didn’t have a female football team, but volleyball instructor Luong Nguyen Ngoc Huyen of the Long An Province Department of Physical Training and Sports learned of Chau and convinced her to join the volleyball team instead.

Huyen tried her best to make volleyball exciting for Chau, but the 11th grade student just didn’t find it as interesting as football.

Finally, Huyen told Chau, “You should stay to play volleyball for [your health] for a year. [Next year] you can learn to play football when the provincial Department of Physical Training and Sports opens a football course.” So Chau agreed to play volleyball for the time being.

That was nearly eight years ago and Chau is still playing volleyball. Today, the 25-year-old is a star player on Vietnam’s national team.

An unusual player

For most athletes, beginning a new sport at the age of 17 and then excelling at it professionally would seem unthinkable.

However, Chau is not like most athletes. She became a major striker on the Long An youth volleyball team. As she is left-handed, she is especially deft at surprising her rivals.

After playing exceptionally in the national A1 tournament in 2003, Chau was called up by coach Nguyen Manh Hung to join the national team to compete at the 22nd Southeast Asian Games the same year.

She said she felt honored to play alongside senior players like Bui Thi Hue city, Pham Thi Kim Hue, Kim Yen and Dang Thi Hong. The team ended up winning the silver medal at the 22nd SEA Games in 2003.

From sports to family

“I started dating when I turned 18,” Chau said. That year, she met and fell in love with fellow Long An volleyball player Pham Van Dinh from the men’s team.

They married in 2007 after six years of courtship. “I am lucky to have found a husband who is six centimeters taller than me,” jokes Chau.

She says having an athlete for a husband has its ups and downs. Dinh’s constructive criticism about the way Chau is playing in a match can sometimes make her unhappy she says. But he is always very caring, she adds.

Dinh was born in 1983 like Chau, but he quit volleyball at 23 because, he said, it would be too difficult on their relationship if they both pursued sports careers.

He wanted to withdraw to give his wife a better chance at success in her career, he added.

Now, Chau and Dinh have built a house in Long An’s capital of Tan An. They have also purchased a piece of land to build rooms for students to rent.

Chau said they both want to have a child but will delay doing so because she is currently a favorite on the Binh Dien Long An volleyball team as well as the national female team.

“I hope younger players will soon improve and replace me so I can withdraw and have a baby,” Chau said.

Now, at age 25, Chau is well-known around the country as an excellent female volleyball player but remains sad that she was denied an opportunity to play football. Chau has always believed she would make a great football striker, she said.

Reported by Quang Huy

Provide by Vietnam Travel

Pulled in two directions - Sports - News |  vietnam travel company

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