Vietnamese female from ball picker to title winner in 26 years of table tennis profession

After 26 years, Vietnamese table tennis team won a gold medal at SEA Games. It is a miracle created by the duo Tran Mai Ngoc and Dinh Anh Hoang. But few people know that tennis player Tran Mai Ngoc used to be a girl who went to pick up balls to nurture her passion for table tennis and then achieve a historical miracle for Vietnamese table tennis team.

Table tennis player Tran Mai Ngoc plays impressively to bring home the gold medal in mixed doubles for Vietnam after 26 years. Photo: Quy Anh

Nearly 26 years ago in 1997, tennis players Vu Manh Cuong and Ngo Thu Thuy performed excellently and brought home the SEA Games gold medal for Vietnam in Indonesia. However, from that time to 2023, Vietnamese table tennis team again won a gold medal at this playground by the excellence of male tennis player Dinh Anh Hoang, but it is also worth mentioning the role of a female - Tran Mai Ngoc from Thu Dau Mot city, currently joining T&T Hanoi Table Tennis Club. Mai Ngoc's journey to the top of glory was not without difficulties and even tears.

Twin sisters Mai Ngoc and Ngoc Nga lost their when they were both 2 years old. The family situation of the two sisters was quite harsh when all expenses were based on the salary of the mother as a factory worker. But after school lessons, the two sisters were sent to learn table tennis by their mother, mainly to pick up balls for the older siblings. In 2013, only at 9 years old, sisters Mai Ngoc and Ngoc Nga were introduced to coach Vu Manh Cuong at T&T Hanoi Table Tennis Club. The turn of the two sisters also changed to bring Mai Ngoc into a professional table tennis player in Vietnam.

Being able to practice and live in a fairly quality environment and along with the talent available from a young age, Mai Ngoc quickly developed her own abilities. It is the fact that they can compete and practice with seniors like Tran Tuan Quynh, Dinh Anh Hoang, Le Dinh Duc and many more, so the skills and achievements of the two sisters have been constantly developing. In particular, Mai Ngoc stood out with many smart and creative skill balls.

Being trained with experienced men has helped Mai Ngoc achieve success and become a phenomenon of Vietnamese table tennis at the age of 15. The girl born in 2004 won 3 silver medals at the national table tennis tournament in 2019. Two years later, Mai Ngoc got on the top with a gold medal in the women's singles national championship. And the gold medal in the mixed doubles event that she just won with her brother Dinh Anh Hoang at the 32nd SEA Games is a recognition for the relentless efforts of the Binh Duong girl.

Emotional and bursting with happiness after the victory, Mai Ngoc said: “I am very happy with this gold medal. I would like to dedicate it to my mother, who supported us in the early days of table tennis. Thank you, Cuong, who gave us the day."

Reported by Thai Hai – Translated by Vi Bao