Huynh Nhu: 'Winning the SEA Games gives me confidence to go to the World Cup'

Cambodia According to captain Huynh Nhu, the 32nd SEA Games gold medal will be a fulcrum for the Vietnamese women's team to confidently head towards the World Cup in July.

Huynh Nhu scored three goals at SEA Games 32. Photo: Duc Dong — Huynh Nhu celebrates the opening goal in the victory over Myanmar in the final of SEA Games 32 on the evening of May 15. Photo: *Duc Dong*

Huynh Nhu is a member of the Vietnamese women's team that won gold medals in the last three SEA Games in Malaysia 2017, Philippines 2019 and at home last year. But according to this veteran striker, winning the SEA Games title for the fourth time with the team still has its own special meaning.

"The 32nd SEA Games championship will help us confidently head towards the World Cup," Huynh Nhu said after the final match, which won 2-0 against Myanmar on the evening of May 15. "This success also helps fans have more faith in Vietnamese women's football."

Before the 32nd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's team was doubted about their ability to defend their gold medal after a change in their squad. The team also faced difficulties when they were in the same group with two strong opponents, Myanmar and the Philippines. However, Huynh Nhu and her teammates gradually conquered the challenge to become the women's football champion.

"Nothing is easy," Huynh Nhu said. "Before the final match, coach Mai Duc Chung told the whole team that 'if we win, we will go down in history'. Therefore, my teammates and I entered the match with the highest determination and effort, and we did it."

Main developments of the match Vietnam Women 2-0 Myanmar.

Huynh Nhu's opening goal in the 12th minute opened up an easier game for Vietnam against Myanmar, before her junior Thanh Nha finished the score with a goal in the 75th minute. Huynh Nhu could not win the Golden Boot as her pre-Games goal, but the three goals she scored in Cambodia were all important opening goals.

Today, the Vietnamese women's team will travel in two groups to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The players will rest for the rest of the week, before reuniting on May 22. The team will then travel to Poland and Germany for training, then to New Zealand in June. During this period, the Vietnamese women's team will play friendly matches with U23 Poland, the German team and the New Zealand team before attending the 2023 World Cup in July.

Hieu Luong (from Phnom Penh)

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