Vietnamese Outside Hitter Receives Prestigious Award in Japan

Tran Thi Thanh Thuy earned the MVP title at the SV League Women’s All-Star Games 2025/26, a match that brought together 28 outstanding female volleyball stars from Japan, taking place on January 31st.

In this competition, the Nichika team that Thanh Thuy participated in convincingly defeated the Yoshino team with a 3-0 score. However, the moment that sparked the most buzz among the audience was a unique incident involving Thanh Thuy.

As the Vietnamese outside hitter stepped up to the service line, the players behind suddenly lined up and simultaneously performed a swaying dance led by artist Miku Iwasawa, leaving the commentators stunned and repeatedly expressing their surprise.

In the stands, fans quickly chanted “TT” – Thanh Thuy’s nickname – turning the moment into a genuine group cheer. Despite the lively atmosphere on the court, Thanh Thuy executed a precise serve and scored immediately afterward.

Beyond the memorable moment, Thanh Thuy also demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the match, making an impact both offensively and defensively, especially with her consistent first-step blocking. Her all-around display earned her the MVP award (Most Valuable Player), receiving a huge round of applause from over 8,000 spectators at the arena.

Regarding this honor, the Vietnamese volleyball outside hitter said: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to play alongside such wonderful athletes and for the experiences they provide.” The crowd continued to give Thanh Thuy warm applause during the award ceremony.

After the game, many international volleyball sites praised Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. Volleytrails wrote: "4T (Thanh Thuy’s nickname) was awarded the best player title in a match full of superstars. Congratulations!".

On Pantip, Thailand’s sports forum, a comment read: "It’s unbelievable that an athlete from Southeast Asia could shine so brightly in a match featuring world-class stars. Congratulations 4T".

"Vietnam’s national team player wearing Gunma Green Wings, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (4T), was named MVP of the SV.League All-Star match. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement!", wrote Indonesia’s Volleyfans site.

The official SV-League account, Japan’s national volleyball league, posted: "The MVP award given by Emut goes to athlete Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. Congratulations!".

Tran Thi Thanh Thuy has maintained very stable form in the 2025/26 Japanese National Championship. After 25 matches, she scored 381 points, ranking 15th overall and is Gunma’s second-highest scorer after Olivia Rozanski, who leads with 673 points. The outside hitter born in 1997 has a scoring efficiency above 40%, placing her in the top 20 this season. Additionally, she has made significant defensive contributions, helping her blue-clad team soar in the rankings.