HUMANITARIAN DECISION OF BAU HIEN: THE FULLNESS THAT HELPS VIETNAMESE TABLE TENNIS HAVE ANOTHER CHAMPION

At the 2025 National Table Tennis Championship recently held in Da Nang , the name Le Dinh Duc has become a notable phenomenon. In the final match of the men's team event, Le Dinh Duc's impressive 3-0 victory over veteran player Nguyen Anh Tu added psychological momentum to his teammate Ta Hong Khanh's decisive victory, thereby helping the CAND T&T table tennis team win the national men's team championship.

Right after the tournament, Le Dinh Duc was mentioned as a bright spot of Vietnamese table tennis. However, few people know that to achieve today's glory, this young man born in 1999 had to go through an incident that almost stopped his career and life. If it weren't for the timely "arms" of Mr. Hien, things might have turned out differently.

Born in a rural area in Dak Nong , Le Dinh Duc fell in love with table tennis when he was discovered by former player and coach Vu Manh Cuong and brought to train at the Hanoi T&T table tennis academy in 2009. From here, the mountain boy nurtured his desire to excel with his passion for the small plastic ball.

But disaster struck unexpectedly in 2013, when Duc’s legs suddenly became weak and his muscles atrophied, making him unable to walk on his own. For months, his family and doctors took Duc to all the hospitals from local to central level in the hope of finding the cause, but all they got in return was head shakes.

Le Dinh Duc stands out with his stable playing style, solid defense and good coordination with teammates.

It was not until he met with specialists at Bach Mai Hospital that Duc was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis – a serious disease that can rob him of his mobility and leave him disabled for life if not treated promptly.

Hearing that his potential student was seriously ill, coach Vu Manh Cuong reported it to the team's leadership. Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Do Quang Hien - Executive Chairman of T&T Group, and also the team's sponsor - made the decision: "By all means, Duc must be treated. Even if Duc cannot compete in the future, he must be helped to walk and live like a normal person." That was the strong commitment of the dedicated "boss", who was willing to take care of all the medical expenses for the young talent, with the thought that he must first save a human being.

That humane decision began a difficult journey that lasted for 3 years for Le Dinh Duc on the hospital bed. During that time, the entire Hanoi T&T table tennis team became a strong support for Duc both mentally and physically. Coach Vu Manh Cuong and his teammates personally took turns carrying Duc from the 1st floor to the 5th floor of Bach Mai Hospital every day to facilitate his daily activities and treatment.

Each dose of special medicine for Duc at that time cost more than 20 million VND - a huge amount compared to the income of a young athlete - but thanks to the wholehearted support from Mr. Hien, the financial issue was never a barrier to the treatment process.

Even during the 6th infusion, when Duc suddenly had side effects, the entire treatment department was worried. Fortunately, Duc's health gradually stabilized and all of those efforts were proof of the "heart" that Mr. Hien had silently instilled in those around him.

Thanks to his legs and will supported by a loving community, Le Dinh Duc gradually overcame his fate. From learning to walk step by step in pain, learning to move again with the smallest movements, the Dak Nong boy not only recovered his normal mobility but also nurtured a strong determination: "I will return to the table tennis table. I will not give up this dream".

The fire of passion fueled by that extraordinary willpower helped Duc make a spectacular comeback. Overcoming the pain of illness, he gradually regained his inherent athletic form. Since 2018, Le Dinh Duc began to reap the first achievements when he returned to the national arena. The duo Dinh Anh Hoang - Le Dinh Duc then dominated the men's doubles event when they won the national championship in this event for 6 consecutive years.

Not only that, at the 2022 National Sports Festival and SEA Games 31 (2022) as well as SEA Games 32 (2023), Duc and his teammates continuously brought home medals, affirming his strong comeback.

The highlight was at the recent 2025 National Championship, in addition to the men's team gold medal, Le Dinh Duc and his teammates once again stepped onto the highest podium in the men's doubles event, extending the remarkable streak of success in their career.

Mr. Hien (in black shirt) at the departure ceremony of the CAND T&T table tennis team. Player Le Dinh Duc (second from left, top row) played excellently.

Now, from a boy facing the risk of disability, Le Dinh Duc has risen to become a national champion and the new pride of Vietnamese table tennis. Duc himself understands that without the dedicated help of Mr. Hien and his teachers and teammates in the past, he probably would not have been able to have today.

The 2025 national team gold medal that Duc helped bring home for CAND T&T is also the most meaningful gratitude he gives to those who have accompanied him, especially his "benefactor" Do Quang Hien. Le Dinh Duc's miraculous revival story is a vivid testament to the value of humanity in sports.

The act of Mr. Hien - who is determined not to abandon young talents in times of trouble - not only saved a seemingly unfinished career, but also spread the message of responsibility and humanity in today's professional sports community.

According to CafeF: https://cafef.vn/quyet-dinh-nhan-van-cua-bau-hien-diem-tua-giup-bong-ban-viet-nam-co-them-nha-vo-dich-188250603165112724.chn

Source: https://www.ttgroup.com.vn/quyet-dinh-nhan-van-cua-bau-hien-diem-tua-giup-bong-ban-viet-nam-co-them-nha-vo-dich