Despite nearly 20 years of difficulties and challenges in the sport, Pham Thi Kim Hue has never felt tired of volleyball. Middle blocker Pham Thi Kim Hue seen in her last national tournament in 2016 when her Vietinbank club won the championship title. — Photo laodong.vn She has just been hired as head coach of Vietinbank, one of the nation's strongest clubs, ahead of the new season. In her new role, national team legend Hue has the chance to write a new chapter in her storied career. Brilliant athletic career The 14-year-old girl knew nothing about volleyball when she was at the Military Signal Corps Command’s training course in 1996. Hue was invited to try out for the club after she impressed scouts with her height of about 1.7m. She immediately found that volleyball suited her better than the track-and-field events she had been training for. Her switch of sport marked a turning point in her life. Two years after that, Hue first played as a professional player. Three years later, she became the youngest ever skipper of the club at the age of 19. She also captained Vietinbank when she moved there in 2012. In 2002, the core player of the national team was given the captain's armband, making her the youngest national captain in history when she was nearly 20. The 1.81m player was considered the best middle blocker who could read matches and made powerful spikes from the backline in Southeast Asia in her peak of 2002-06. With an average of 20 points per match, she was called a point machine. At the club level, Hue is no doubt the country's most successful player. She has a record of 17 years in a row competing at the national championship. She has won all the best individual titles together with nine national trophies along with gold medals from national cups. With the national team, Hue pocketed six silvers and one bronze at the Southeast Asian Games. She also drew fans to the court to cheer on the team and to watch the …
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