Vietnam’s top spiker, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, has once again had her overseas journey cut short. The announcement of her departure from Indonesian club Gresik Petrokimia on January 31 surprised many, as she was considered one of the team’s strongest and most experienced international players.

Just days before the split, Thanh Thuy delivered an impressive performance, scoring 16 points in a match against Jakarta Pertamina.

With only seven official matches played, Thanh Thuy spent just about a month competing in Indonesia, despite originally signing a contract that was supposed to last until May.

Neither Thanh Thuy nor Gresik Petrokimia has publicly stated the reason for the contract termination. However, Indonesian sports outlet Sportcorner speculated that health issues, specifically a knee injury, might have affected her performance.

"Thanh Thuy joined Gresik Petrokimia in suboptimal condition. After shining in the Semarang round, her form declined, leading head coach Ayub Hidayat to bench her more frequently," Sportcorner reported.

However, sources suggest that Gresik Petrokimia ended the contract because they signed a stronger outside hitter to boost their championship hopes. Currently ranked 5th in Proliga, the team’s management was reportedly dissatisfied with their standing.

Indonesian media confirmed that Gresik Petrokimia recently signed Julia Sangiacomo, a 1.97m-tall American outside hitter, which may have directly influenced Thanh Thuy’s early departure.

Previously, Thanh Thuy also had a short-lived stint with Kuzeyboru in Turkey, lasting just two months before returning home, following a three-season tenure with Japan’s PFU Blue Cats.

Despite these challenges, Thanh Thuy remains a historic figure in Vietnamese volleyball, being the only player to have competed in six different international leagues, including Thailand, Taiwan (China), Japan (two teams), Turkey, and Indonesia.

After spending the Lunar New Year with her family in Vietnam, Thanh Thuy has resumed training with her home club, VTV Binh Dien Long An. She and her teammates are preparing for their first tournament of 2025, the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup, which is set to take place in early March.

Dai Nam