HÀ NỘI — The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has included Vietnamese midfielder, Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung, in its list of 100 Women 2017.

It is the fifth year that BBC is running its programme, which pays tribute to 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. This year, the women were selected for their work in tackling four of the biggest problems women face today - the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sports.

BBC contacted and visited Dung in Hà Nam Province, her hometown, last week.

The clips of the women have been running on YouTube from the beginning of this month, in English and in 28 other languages.

“I was surprised when BBC reporters contacted me. I consider it as a strong motivating force to push myself further to do the job better, and contribute more to the national team,” said Dung.

“After an SEA Games title (in August) my biggest dream is a ticket to compete in the World Cup. I have not forgotten our loss to Thailand, which cost us the World Cup slot three years ago. I hope that we make it this time,” she said.

It is said that BBC discovered Dung when she was written about on FIFA’s home page in early August.

FIFA was impressed with Dung’s ability to score directly from a corner kick of different sites, twice in a single match between Việt Nam and Malaysia at the regional championship in 2015.

It is the first time in history that a Vietnamese female athlete has made it to the list.

Apart from 23-year-old Dung, who will, together with her teammates, compete at the 2018 Asian Cup next April, there are two other Vietnamese on the list.

The first one is a lottery ticket vendor and swimming coach, Trần Thị Kim Thia, and the second one is a painter who draws with her feet, Huỳnh Thị Xậm. — VNS