Nguyen Thi Oanh & Tien Minh’s Wife: Badminton Match-Up

Fans were thrilled when Nguyen Thi Oanh and Vu Thi Trang performed.

At the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Nguyen Thi Oanh once again confirmed her status as one of Vietnam’s most outstanding track and field athletes. The athlete known as the “Little Snail” won all three gold medals in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m and 3,000 m steeplechase, securing a convincing hat trick. With this success, Oanh increased her total number of individual gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games to a record 15 – a rare milestone in the history of Vietnamese athletics.

With her unwavering fighting spirit, her iron determination and her ability to surpass herself, Oanh once again brought home valuable medals and thus made a significant contribution to the overall success of the Vietnamese sports delegation. The image of Nguyen Thi Oanh, who fights with the highest intensity and repeatedly takes part in strenuous competitions, has become a symbol of endurance and the silent sacrifices in high-performance sports.

Meanwhile, Vu Thi Trang, an experienced badminton player and partner of former Vietnamese top player Nguyen Tien Minh, also attracted attention with her fighting spirit and professionalism at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Vu Thi Trang and Bui Bich Phuong won the bronze medal in women’s doubles – the only medal for the Vietnamese badminton team at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. This represents a significant improvement over the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, where the team came away empty-handed.

At a time when Vietnamese badminton needs a generational change, Vu Thi Trang’s tenacity and experience are seen as a crucial support – both professionally and mentally – for the younger players.

On behalf of the organizing committee, Mr. Than Ngoc Hien said: “Out of admiration for the unwavering will and resilience of the two athletes, the organizing committee came up with the idea of ​​inviting Nguyen Thi Oanh and Vu Thi Trang to Ho Chi Minh City so that they can interact with their fans. At the same time, this also offers companies from Bac Ninh in the south a special opportunity to get to know and support their compatriots.”

As part of the program, the two athletes openly described their path to success at the SEA Games 33, the enormous pressure of top-level sport, the years of preparation and moments when they almost had to give up due to injuries, overuse or physical limitations. These everyday yet authentic stories touched the many fans in the stadium.

The Bac Ninh Business Association in southern Vietnam honored Nguyen Thi Oanh and Vu Thi Trang with numerous awards and words of encouragement for their tireless efforts. This was not only a material recognition, but also a great source of motivation and strengthened the athletes’ desire to continue contributing to the national sport. Mr Than Ngoc Hien and his daughter also donated VND 10 million to each of the two athletes.

“This is a small gift from my daughter and I to both of you. I hope it will encourage you to continue to strive and bring honor to the country in general and our hometown of Bac Ninh in particular,” Mr. Hien added.

After sharing some interesting anecdotes, Vu Thi Trang immediately entered the badminton court to chat with the fans. Not wanting to miss out, Nguyen Thi Oanh unexpectedly grabbed her racket and played doubles with Vu Thi Trang.

After the end of the games, which ended with cheers from fans, Nguyen Thi Oanh said: “My main sport is athletics, so I spend most of my time training and competing. I also used to play and train in badminton during my studies. That’s why I’m very happy to take part in such a competition. It was especially nice that I was able to play together with Trang – someone I admire very much. I hope today’s exchange gives everyone a lot of joy.”

“I just wanted to give you all a little message: I hope you all continue to be passionate about what you do and love your work. At the same time, don’t forget to exercise regularly to maintain your health,” said Nguyen Thi Oanh.