Resilient journey of a disabled young man from Hai Phong port city
WVR - There are people whose names alone inspire respect, because their life journey is a series of relentless struggles against fate, pain, and even themselves. Nguyen Van Truong, from the port city of Hai Phong, is one of those people.
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| Nguyen Van Truong won the Bronze Medal in Badminton at the 2025 National Championship for Disabled Athletes in badminton, table tennis, weightlifting, and pickleball. (Source: Vietnam Disabled Youth Association) |
When people mention Truong, they do not only talk about the sports medals he has won, but also about his long journey of overcoming adversity, which moves anyone who learns about it. Amid the quiet flow of daily life, he is like a small flame, quiet yet steadfast, illuminating the beautiful values of human resilience.
The accident struck in the year 2000, when Truong was just an 8-year-old boy. A sudden tragedy took away his arm—not just a part of his body, but also a piece of his childhood, his joy and his innocence. In that moment, it felt as if life had slammed shut the door of hope before the small boy. No one teaches a child how to face such a sudden loss, and Truong was no exception—he could only bury his face in his mother’s arms and cry, not knowing how to continue living, how to grow up.
The days that followed were a long stretch of physical pain, and even more, of inner torment. From a lively child, Truong became withdrawn and quiet. Simple things like putting on a shirt, tying shoelaces, or cooking became immense challenges. The boy of that time had to depend on his mother’s hands, and that dependency became a silent, lasting shadow in his heart for many years.
But the miracle of life lies in this: in the depths of hardship, people sometimes discover a strength they never knew they had. Truong began to relearn everything from the beginning, starting with the smallest movements. Slowly but steadfastly, falling then rising again. That boy gradually learned to live independently—no longer making his mother worry about every meal, every sleep, no longer letting her tears be the only witness to his pain.
By his side through those years was his family—his mother, always saying, “Be strong, I believe you can do it”; his father, his siblings, always quietly standing with him. That love and trust lit the path he walked, no matter how rough or dark it was.
In 2011, another turning point arrived—but this time, not a tragedy, but hope. Seeing the neighborhood kids play badminton, a thought flashed in Truong’s mind: “If they can play, why can’t I?” Acting on it, he asked his parents to buy him his first racket—not to entertain himself, but to challenge himself, to affirm that he could still live a full life, in his own way.
His remaining arm had to bear the entire burden of technique, strength, and dexterity—something that seemed impossible. However, Truong never allowed himself to stop at “impossible.” He trained tirelessly, enduring pain, skeptical glances, and even moments of wanting to give up. Through sheer determination, in 2019 he was officially invited to join the city’s badminton team for disabled athletes. That same year, he won a team Bronze Medal at the national championship—marking the beginning of an impressive series of achievements.
From someone who once struggled to simply live, Truong gradually became an inspiration to many others. He not only competed and won, but also became a speaker at specialized seminars, actively raising social awareness. He published more than 3,000 communication materials on environmental protection—a field not directly related to sports, but deeply connected to the sense of community responsibility among young Vietnamese.
Beyond that, Truong actively engaged in social activities: teaching badminton to children from difficult backgrounds, submitting petitions to the authorities on infrastructure for vulnerable groups, and contributing his voice to draft amendments of the Law on People with Disabilities. Wherever understanding and empathy were needed, Truong was present.
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| Nguyen Van Truong with teammates at a tournament. (Source: Vietnam Disabled Youth Association) |
Since 2020, he has always been one of the outstanding figures in the community of disabled youth, contributing to the promotion of inclusion, equality, and respect for diversity. His efforts are not for recognition, but for a simple belief: “People with disabilities can also live usefully, live independently, and live with aspiration”.
With all that he has gone through—from loss to recovery, from a frightened boy to an inspiring man—Nguyen Van Truong deserves to be a symbol of resilience, of the courage of the young generation in today’s era. He has not only conquered the sports arena but also touched the hearts of many with his authentic and meaningful life journey.
Through tireless effort, Nguyen Van Truong has won many prestigious sports medals, such as: the Bronze Medal in men’s singles badminton at the 2022 National Championship for Disabled Athletes; the Bronze Medal at the 2024 National Badminton Championship; and the Silver Medal at the 2025 National Badminton Championship. He was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Hai Phong People’s Committee for his outstanding achievements at the National Sports Games for Disabled Athletes.
In addition, Truong opened free badminton classes for disadvantaged children in Minh Duc ward, helping them improve their health, spirit, and will to overcome difficulties; he also works as a speaker to promote social inclusion for disabled people through sports. “This is also my way of spreading faith and resilience to the younger generation”, Truong said.
In 2025, Nguyen Van Truong was among the 25 individuals honoured in the program “Shining Vietnamese Resilience”—a well-deserved recognition, a testament to what he has patiently built throughout his life’s journey. Honoring him is also a reminder to each of us: within every person is a flame—if only we are brave enough to ignite it.
The 2025 “Shining Vietnamese Resilience” program was organized by the Central Vietnam Youth Federation, the Vietnam Disabled Youth Association, and TCP Vietnam Co., Ltd. to honour and spread inspiring stories of resilient disabled youth who strive forward in life.
