Nguyễn Thị Tâm, 23, is a slim young woman with a pretty face. At first glance, no one would guess she is a strong boxer on the Hà Nội and national teams. She recently made Vietnamese history as the first Vietnamese female boxer to win an Asian title. Thanh Nga spoke with her.

Inner Sanctum: What led you to take up boxing?

At the age of 14, I would watch track-and-field events and dream of becoming a famous runner for my hometown in Quỳnh Phụ District, Thái Bình Province. However, after two years, I realised that athletics didn’t suit me, so I asked my coach to let me quit. After that, a local coach recognised my capacity for boxing and took me to Hà Nội to follow his training programme.

At first, I was very afraid and always asked to return home, but my coaches always encouraged me. So I would train some more. I gradually completed difficult moves and felt more passionate about the sport; I didn’t want to give it up.

Inner Sanctum: Boxing is a sport that requires high-intensity training, and trainers have to be able to manage injuries at any time. Did you have any difficulties as a woman training in this sport?

Yes, of course. I sometimes suffered injuries such as black eyes, sore arms and sore shoulders. That is normal. At that time, I don’t dare go home because I am afraid that my parents will scold me and forbid me from continuing to train as a boxer. In fact, I don’t fear being injured. I just think that I will have to try harder to avoid such situations.

Inner Sanctum: Have you ever wanted to stop boxing?

Yes. There was a time in 2016, when I competed in the Let’s Viet Championship, held in Hà Nội. I was very confident about facing Trịnh Thị Diễm Kiều of the military team in the final. I played better than my rival, but the result was in favour of Kiều. I was very sad and so was my coach, Nguyễn Như Cường. Cường and I walked a long road from Hà Nội’s Trịnh Hoài Đức Gymnasium to my hotel to talk with each other. I asked Cường to allow me to retire from competition, but he encouraged me greatly and told me I had to be stronger. Cường allowed me to take a short rest at home to regain my spirit.

After that, a journalist wrote about my game with Diễm, which divided public opinion. The Việt Nam Boxing Federation invited a Thai referee to mark that final match again, and in a wonderful turn of events, I found I had won 4-0. Although I didn’t take the title back, I was very happy because I had recovered my honour.