Vietnamese U18 women's team dominates Kyrgyzstan in Southeast Asian tournament opener

The Vietnamese U18 women's volleyball team made a successful debut at the 2026 Southeast Asian U18 Women's Volleyball Championship by beating Kyrgyzstan U18 3-0 (25-11, 25-5, 25-15) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Under the guidance of coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, the young Vietnamese girls completely overpowered their opponents across all three sets. Particularly in the second set, Vietnam U18 allowed the opposing team to score only 5 points, demonstrating their superior technical skills and effective offensive and defensive organization.

Captain Bui Thi Anh Thao continued to showcase her leadership role, while setter Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang effectively orchestrated the gameplay. Additionally, several young talents such as Nguyen Cham Anh and Nguyen Khanh Linh also left positive impressions on the opening day.

The 2026 Southeast Asian U18 Women's Volleyball Championship (Princess Cup 2026) is being held from June 23 to 28 in Thailand, featuring eight teams: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong (China), and Kyrgyzstan. The teams are divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.

According to the draw results, Vietnam U18 is in Group B alongside Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, and Malaysia. Following the victory over Kyrgyzstan, coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa and her team will face Philippines and Malaysia next, aiming to secure a spot in the semifinals.

The tournament in Thailand is seen as an important preparatory step for Vietnam U18 before participating in the 2026 Asian U18 Championship. The squad for this competition gathers many promising faces of Vietnamese youth volleyball, including Bui Thi Anh Thao, Le Thuy Linh, Nguyen Khanh Linh, Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, and Nguyen Mai Quynh.