Playing a key post in the high-profile volleyball team Vietsovpetro of Vietnam, Russian-born player Merliakovax Ira now sets her sight on being included in the Vietnamese national team after she was naturalized in August, 2010.
The 27-year-old player told Tuoi Tre she has been working hard after holding Vietnamese citizenship so that she will be enlisted in the Vietnamese team for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games to be held in November in Indonesia.
Le Kim Nhung, her Vietnamese name, who is 1.85m tall and weighs 72kg, had a talk with Tuoi Tre.
What are your feelings of the Lunar New Year festival in Vietnam after spending 6 years working here?
In previous years, I usually joined my teammates to visit club’s coaches and spread them our wishes, and in return, we were given lucky money.
But during this 2011 Tet, I had to return to my homeland in Russia for some work.
Can you tell us something about your Vietnamese name Le Kim Nhung?
I think it’s better to have a pure Vietnamese name than combining both foreign and local names.
I consulted my friends and teammates in Vietnam and they all like it.
Can you give us a brief info of your family?
My father is a retired volleyball coach and my mom is a kindergarten’s music teacher. She also played volleyball as an amateur.
Before moving to Vietnam, I played for Dynamo Kiev in Russia.
You won the Best Attacker of the VTV Binh Dien Cup last month
I won that kind of title many times at many other tournaments during my six years in Vietnam. However, the latest one is the most meaningful to me as it marked the first title I won after being granted Vietnamese nationality.
What do you think about volleyball in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia?
To be frank, the development of Vietnamese volleyball is still amateur. What Vietnam need most now is to organize more events for local teams to compete and exchange.
In the region, Thailand is taking the lead and many Thai players are holding key positions at clubs here.
However, I wish the Vietnamese national volleyball team will beat Thailand at this year’s SEA Games. I also hope my Vietsovpetro club will gain best results at this year’s season.
Le Kim Nhung is qualified to be included in the national team to compete at the coming SEA Games, said Vietnam Volleyball Federation general secretary Tran Duc Phan. In addition, she has never played for a Russian national team at any international tournament. “We will soon discuss all aspects of the matter to admit her in our national squad,” said Phan. “Vietnam will become stronger with her service.” |
Russian-born volleyball player Merliakovax Ira (L), who was given Vietnamese citizenship in August, 2010. She is now playing for Vietnam's top-flight club Vietsovpetro
