Vietnam’s star spiker withdraws from World Championship over FIVB eligibility rules

In a statement on her personal Facebook page, the 25-year-old said the last-minute decision followed careful consideration and was supported by the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) and coaching staff.

She cited concerns over the transparency and fairness of the FIVB’s new regulations.

“To protect my integrity and avoid unnecessary risks for the team,” Tuyen said she would focus on training for future competitions.

Earlier, the VFV confirmed her withdrawal, citing family and personal reasons.

According to The Nation, there had been previous news reports suggesting that Thailand might request an investigation from the FIVB into the gender of some Vietnamese players, including Tuyen, following a penalty imposed on one of Vietnam’s U21 team members in a previous world championship event in Indonesia.

The Vietnamese women’s volleyball team traveled to Thailand with 13 players on Wednesday morning.

Head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet will field only one opposite spiker, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, requiring adjustments to the team’s tactics.

Vietnam, ranked world No. 22, has been drawn into Group G alongside No. 3 Poland, No. 11 Germany, and No. 23 Kenya.

The team will open its campaign against Poland on August 23, followed by matches against Germany on August 25 and Kenya on August 27.

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship features 32 teams in eight groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.