"Roses" of Dong Nai and journey to write Esports history at SEA Games 33

SEA Games 33 marked a historic milestone for Vietnamese Esports when the female Arena of Valor (AoV) team won the first gold medal in this sport at the SEA Games.

The Vietnamese women's team wins a gold medal in the Arena of Valor women's team event. In the photo: Thanh Duyen (far right), Huyen Trang (second from left).

In the lineup of 6 players who made this memorable achievement, there was a significant contribution from two proud individuals from Dong Nai: Nguyen Thanh Duyen and Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang. Two young women, two different personalities, but sharing the same aspiration to contribute and the fighting spirit for the national flag.

Portraits of 2 beautiful female players from Dong Nai. Photo courtesy of the subject

Nguyen Thanh Duyen: The "youngest" carrying the spearhead

In the lineup of 6 female Arena of Valor players from Vietnam, Nguyen Thanh Duyen is the youngest member, always receiving support from her older teammates. The girl from Tran Bien ward has a petite figure, a gentle face, and is soft-spoken. However, when she enters the virtual arena, Thanh Duyen completely transforms into a cold "Marksman" (ADL) with precise, decisive, and unyielding plays.

Nguyen Thanh Duyen is currently a student in class DH40LK02, majoring in Economic Law, at Ho Chi Minh University of Banking. Photo courtesy of the subject

Playing as an ADL (Dragon Lane Marksman), Thanh Duyen plays the role of the main damage dealer, a position that directly affects the outcome of the match. At SEA Games 33, she often put opponents in a passive state with decisive plays, clever positioning, and the ability to keep a "cool" head in the most stressful moments.

Few people know that Thanh Duyen’s journey into professional esports began quite by chance, through an invitation from her brother. Thanh Duyen shared: “Actually, at first, I played Arena of Valor because my brother invited me, and I just intended to play for fun. I never thought I would become a professional player. Later, people encouraged me to enter competitions, and as I progressed through each round, I realized that I could pursue this path.”

Nguyen Thanh Duyen with her brother, the one who introduced her to Arena of Valor. Photo courtesy of the subject

Starting with Arena of Valor when she was in middle school, Thanh Duyen had to face concerns from her family. "At first, my parents objected because they were afraid I would get addicted to games and not focus on studying. After a while, they saw that I played without affecting my studies, so my parents allowed it, but it had to be within limits, only playing about 1-2 hours a day," Thanh Duyen said.

Recalling the time her daughter was called up to the team to compete in national qualifiers for SEA Games 33, Do Mong Nhu, Thanh Duyen's mother, could not hide her worry: "When she was called up to train with the team, I was also very concerned, not knowing what the living and training environment would be like, or if she would be distracted from her studies."

Therefore, Nhu decided to go directly to the gaming house and stay with her daughter for 2 days and 2 nights to observe her training firsthand. "After staying and observing, I saw that she was very serious and dedicated to training with her teammates, and her daily life also had clear schedules and discipline. That's when I truly felt at ease and supported her in pursuing this path," Nhu said.

To gain her family's support, Thanh Duyen had to demonstrate self-discipline and dedication. Her family's companionship and support were a great source of spiritual encouragement for her throughout her journey at SEA Games 33.

The family travels to Thailand to cheer her on and further motivate Nguyen Thanh Duyen on her journey to conquer SEA Games 33.

"When I participated in the SEA Games, my family also made time to go to Thailand to cheer for me. Witnessing firsthand my journey with my teammates competing and bringing glory to the country, I was truly very proud," Nhu emotionally shared.

Despite being the "youngest," Thanh Duyen always maintained incredible composure in crucial moments, directly contributing to the main damage output to finish off opponents.

The Vietnamese Women's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team was welcomed by fans at the airport after winning the SEA Games 33 gold medal. Photo courtesy of the subject

Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang: wholeheartedly supporting teammates

If Thanh Duyen was the offensive spearhead, then Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, a female gamer born in 2002 from Trang Dai ward, was the silent protector behind her in the support position. Huyen Trang's role was to support teammates, control the map, and set the stage for decisive engagements.

Portrait of female player Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang. Photo courtesy of the subject

Unlike many families who are still hesitant about esports, Huyen Trang’s parents have always been supportive of their daughter. Huyen Trang said: “My parents see that I still study fully and live a regular life, so they are very reassured. Before I went to Thailand to compete, my parents even came to the training ground to encourage and advise me.”

The journey of the Vietnamese women’s team at SEA Games 33 was not without challenges. Huyen Trang shared: “Because we were competing in another country, our team faced equipment issues and couldn’t find suitable machines for training. Fortunately, thanks to the support of the federation and the company, we were provided with proper equipment for practice.”

Huyen Trang’s consistency was the reliable "anchor" that helped the team maintain dominance over every opponent. In the final match, when the Vietnamese team was on the verge of securing a historic gold medal, Huyen Trang admitted she could not hide her nervousness. “I was worried because I wanted to maintain an undefeated record for the whole team. Everyone wants to win, but the bigger the match, the stronger your mentality needs to be,” Huyen Trang said.

In the support role, Huyen Trang understood that even a small mistake could impact the entire team. Therefore, instead of letting emotions take over, she chose to stay calm and focus on fulfilling her responsibilities. That composure and consistency played a crucial role in helping the Vietnamese women’s team maintain its dominant form and secure a decisive victory in the final match.

The first gold medal for women's Mobile Legends at the SEA Games, a memorable milestone for Vietnamese esports. Photo courtesy of the subject

At the moment of winning the gold medal, Huyen Trang's emotions were a mix of excitement, elation, and pride. "This is a huge achievement not only for me personally but also for the entire team. It marks an important milestone for women's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and for Vietnamese esports," Huyen Trang affirmed.

The Vietnamese women's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team is a blend of clever captain Ky Duyen, the mature "big sister" Dieu Linh, and distinct personalities like Hoa Tranh, Thanh Duyen, and Huyen Trang. It was this diversity of character that created a harmonious and united team, leading them to victory at SEA Games 33.

After SEA Games 33, Huyen Trang decided to continue pursuing a career as a professional player. She hopes that esports, especially Mobile Legends, will provide more opportunities for women, creating additional platforms where girls can challenge themselves and pursue their passions.

In the near future, the female gamer from Dong Nai also plans to try her hand at livestreaming, sharing more about her daily life on social media platforms, thereby connecting more closely with fans.

Two beautiful and talented girls from Dong Nai, Nguyen Thanh Duyen and Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, along with their teammates, made every effort and dedicated themselves to the national flag and, and more significantly, contributed to bringing glory to Vietnamese esports in the Southeast Asian arena with the prestigious gold medal in the women's team Arena of Valor (AoV) event for the first time. The brilliance of Thanh Duyen and Huyen Trang not only brought glory to Dong Nai but also strongly inspired young people who aspire to pursue their esports passion professionally and honorably.

The victory of the Vietnamese girls in the women's team Arena of Valor (AoV) event, which was included in the official competition program at the 33rd SEA Games for the first time, is not just a medal, but also a milestone affirming the position of women in an environment traditionally considered a male stronghold.

 

By Huy Anh, Minh Hanh – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho