LookAtVietnam – Vietnamese women’s volleyballers readily reveal their height but are reluctant to discuss weight.

Don’t ask: Pham Thi Yen (attacker) in a national tourney. Vietnamese women’s volleyballers readily reveal their height but are reluctant to discuss weight.

Yen, who plays for national champions Military Signal Corps, stands 1.76m and at 73kg is above the ideal weight for an attacker.

A knee injury during recent seasons is the main reason for the Ninh Binh-born Yen’s weight.

Women volleyballers start out thin but get bigger after months of training.

“It maybe our regime. We train hard and eat so much. But we are strong enough,” said Yen, whose weight is average for westerners but high for a Vietnamese women athlete.

Weight concerns

Two thirds of the national squad weigh more than 70kg with only Pham Kim Hue city, Pham Thu Trang and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa considered slim.

Nguyen Thi Xuan, the key attacker for Industrial and Commercial Bank, is the heaviest at 78kg on a 1.8m frame. Dinh Thi Dieu Chau (72kg and 1.80m), Ha Thi Hoa and Bui Thi Hue (73kg and 1.74m) are next.

The long-legged players said the many hours they spent training off the court included lifting weights.

Most teams discourage players from having babies within two years of marriage but some women start a family sooner because they are getting older.

“As we play and train with local and national teams throughout the year, we get little chance to find boyfriends,” said Pham Thu Trang. “The only easy way is to marry fellow players.”

The Military Signal Corps youngster has romanced a basketballer from Air-Force and Air Defence team for three years.

“It’s hard to look for a boyfriend the same height. Most men look for someone shorter, rather than make friends with taller girls,” Trang said.

Former national team captain Kim Hue, who has returned to play for Military Signal Corps after being married for two years and having a baby, had a four-year courtship with a Military Zone 3 footballer.

Dieu Chau, of Long An-based Binh Dien, is engaged to Pham Van Dinh, who plays for Hoang Long-Long An, while Ha Thi Hoa settled down two years ago with Ha Noi ACB goalkeeper Ta Duc Hieu.

“As sportswomen, we can share joys and troubles with sportsmen. It’s an easy way to find a man,” said key attacker Dieu Chau. “Women volleyballers often partner male colleagues.”

Team-mate Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, who at 1.83m is one of Viet Nam’s tallest women volleyballers, is dating a colleague from Hoang Long-Long An.

“I don’t want to reveal his name. We met a few years ago when national championships were at the same venue. I could hardly find a man the same height,” Hoa said.

Earlier this year, national team member Bui Thi Hue married her love of five years, Tran Van Giap.

Matter of discipline

Managers, who always worry teams will lack power when key players marry or have a baby, emphasise the discipline required for a successful sporting career.

“Along with the coaching board, I raise their awareness about professionalism. They should enjoy success before getting married, This can help them in later life with a good income and reputation,” said former national women’s coach Nguyen Van Hung.

“I often tell players they are at the top of their powers when young. It takes time to return to the top after having babies,” said Hung, who coaches the Trang An-Ninh Binh women’s team.

“But it depend on the individuals. They have to decide between sport and their personal life.

“They have to decide what is right and reasonable for them,” said the coach.

Volleyball turned professional in 2005 but few team coaches can offer good nutritional advice.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News