Miss Volleyball Pham Thi Kim Hue city

Miss Volleyball Pham Thi Kim Hue is back after a three-year layoff caused by an injury, and although she is raring to get back into the thick of things, she comes with a different perspective.

The 26-year-old, who has been the pride of Vietnamese volleyball, looks happy as a wife and a mother. This has been the positive part of her long layoff.

Hue sustained a rare injury during a practice session while she was in peak form.

She broke her shinbone, while the usual injuries in this sport are to the shoulder or knees.

During her long recovery period, fans rarely saw the number five athlete in important competitions. She was sometimes seen in the stands as a spectator.

It was a terrible time for a shining star like Hue. Yet, the stars were smiling on her because she met the love of her life.

“He took good care of me while I was in hospital,” Hue said. “He supported me a lot. Though it was just a phone call or an SMS, I felt his true love.”

She is proud of her husband. “My hubby’s weakness is that he doesn’t say romantic words; but he has countless strength.

“For instance, he is willing to stay at home to look after the baby. He is happy to do the cooking as well as all the housework, so I have time to study, practice and play volleyball.”

These are busy times again for Hue. She has to retake exams at the University of Sports while training to play again. Her husband has to do everything in the house.

“I am lucky to have found a reliable husband. I am pleased with my life now although I sometimes feel that I am not a good wife and mother.”

She happily pulls out her cell phone to show a photo of her daughter Hue Anh, saying, “My daughter looks more like my hubby than me, with big round eyes.”

She says she has halved her work for her passion for the sport since she had her daughter more than a year ago.

Her own family is very important now. At weekends, she and her husband just stay at home to play with their daughter and “travel with the television.”

“Since I had my daughter, I have felt more happiness in my life,” Hue said. “Everything has been easier and I have better motivation to improve myself.”

Peace and quiet

Her good looks meant there were many suitors for her hand, but she wanted to keep calm and make the best choice.

Hue says she doesn’t like excitement. She is happy with the simple things around her. She visits her parents often, sits with them at their tea shop and plays with her toddler or helps her self-employed husband with his business.

A few years ago, Hue was invited to work as a model, she didn’t want to quit volleyball.

However, she doesn’t want to pursue her earlier dream of becoming a volleyball coach. She plans to do business when she stops playing volleyball.

However, she doesn’t say what her plan is. Only that it will be something that puts her family first.

Reported by Linh Anh