Chapter 2 — Bridge Yard Beats

The internal tournament to select the squad for the regional qualifiers took place three days later, gathering all the athletes gathered at the National Badminton Training Center. This is an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate their actual performance before finalizing the official list to participate in the regional Olympic qualifiers, where the team needs to win enough tickets in both singles and doubles events to ensure participation in the Olympics.

Vy entered the main court with a feeling of both nervousness and determination. Her opponent in the women's singles semi-final was a promising young athlete who had just been promoted from the youth team. From the first seconds, Vy completely overwhelmed her with her attacking style of play, with continuous thunderous smashes that left her opponent unable to react in time.

In the stands, Long sat with a few teammates, his eyes following each of Vy's shots with special attention that he himself could not explain. Although she often criticizes her undisciplined playing style, it cannot be denied that Vy's natural talent and fierce fighting spirit always have their own charm.

"Look closely at the way Vy adjusted the pace of the match," Phong, a teammate sitting next to Long, commented, his voice full of admiration. "From the beginning of the set until now, she has never given her opponent a chance to catch up."

Long nodded, said nothing more, his eyes still glued to the field. Vy won the first set with a large margin, entering the second set with clear confidence in every step.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring field, the mixed doubles semi-final between the pair Tram - another male athlete and a strong opponent pair is also taking place equally tensely. Tram, although still in the process of recovering from her knee injury, decided to participate in the match to prove that she was still capable of holding a position in the official squad.

The match was tense until the deciding set. In a fiercely contested ball match near the net, Tram jumped to catch the ball, but as soon as she landed, her knees suddenly buckled, and a small "crack" sounded loud enough for those standing closest to hear. She collapsed on the field, her face contorted in pain.

"Stop the fight! Call a doctor now!" Coach Kiet shouted loudly and hurriedly ran from the direction area, his face unable to hide his worry.

The entire gymnasium suddenly became chaotic, many athletes from other stadiums also stopped practicing and ran to see the situation. Vy, playing on the main field, glanced over when she heard the noise. Her face showed concern when she realized that the person who had just fallen was Tram - her sister and close friend who had always encouraged her all this time.

The team doctor quickly arrived and briefly checked Tram's condition right on the field before taking her to the hospital for a more detailed scan. The mixed doubles match was forced to pause, and Vy, despite her anxiety, still had to try to focus on completing her singles match according to competition regulations.

She won the final, but her face did not show the usual joy after an important victory. As soon as the referee announced the result, Vy quickly packed her things and ran to the medical area to ask about Tram's condition.

"How is she?" Vy asked urgently when she met the team doctor taking notes outside the medical room.

"Suspected anterior cruciate ligament damage, we need to have an MRI scan to determine the exact extent," the doctor replied, his voice serious. "If it is true that the ligament is damaged, the recovery time can last from six months to a whole year, and the ability to return to peak performance is also uncertain."

That news was like a bucket of cold water pouring down on the entire team. Tram is a mainstay of the mixed doubles event, Long's best partner over the past three years. Losing Tram means that the team will almost certainly lose tickets to compete in the mixed doubles event in the Olympic qualifiers, because there is no time left for another athlete to build the necessary chemistry with Long before the registration deadline.

That evening, the whole team gathered in the common room in a heavy atmosphere. Coach Kiet stood in front of the whole team, his face full of concern as he had to announce the situation.

"Children, I know this is bad news," he said, his voice low. "Tram will need a long time to recover, and that means we are at risk of losing our ticket to the mixed doubles competition in the upcoming regional qualifiers."

The whole room was silent, many faces could not hide their anxiety. Long sat in the front row, clasping his hands tightly, looking down at the floor, a vague sense of guilt rising even though he knew clearly that Tram's injury was not anyone's fault.

"I have thought a lot about the alternative," Coach Kiet continued, his eyes scanning each student's face. "We don't have enough time to bring another professional doubles athlete into practice and build chemistry from the beginning. So, I'm considering another option — bolder, but maybe the only chance to save this ticket."

His eyes stopped, looking at Long and then Vy in turn, making both of them feel a vague premonition of insecurity.

"I will announce the official decision tomorrow, after consulting with the coaching staff," he said, his voice decisive. "For now, everyone should rest. We have a lot to discuss tomorrow."

After the meeting, Vy went to the hospital to visit Tram as soon as the initial scan results were back. Tram lies on the hospital bed, her leg is fixed with a brace, her face is still marked with disappointment even though she tries to keep calm in front of her juniors.

"I'm sorry for making the team worry," Tram said, her voice choked up as Vy entered the room.

"Don't say that," Vy held Tram's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears. "This was an accident, not your fault. The most important thing right now is that you focus on recovering well."

"I'm more worried about the team's Olympic ticket," Tram sighed, looking out the hospital window. "Over the past three years, you and Long have built that chemistry little by little. Now, it can all collapse because of a moment of carelessness on your part."

"Don't blame yourself like that," Vy comforted, although inside she couldn't help but worry about the team's future. "Teacher Kiet will definitely find the most suitable solution."

Before Vy left the hospital room, Tram called her back, his eyes unusually serious. "Vy, no matter what Mr. Kiet decides, I hope you will believe in yourself. You have much greater potential than you think."

"What do you mean by that?" Vy asked, her eyes curious at those somewhat mysterious words.

"Nothing," Tram smiled, shaking her head slightly. "Just an older sister's feelings. Go home and rest, you have to practice early tomorrow."

On the way back to the training center, Vy couldn't stop thinking about the meaningful looks that Coach Kiet gave her and Long in the meeting this afternoon, plus Tram's mysterious words. A vague premonition made her feel uneasy, even though she could not clearly determine what was waiting ahead.

Returning to the dormitory, Vy saw Long standing alone in the hallway, his eyes looking out into the dark yard, his thoughtful appearance different from his usual calmness. She intended to pass quietly, but in the end she stopped.

"Are you also thinking about Mr. Kiet's story?" she asked, her voice no longer as harsh as usual.

Long turned back, somewhat surprised by Vy's rare initiative. "Yes," he replied, his voice deeper than usual. "Tram and I have practiced together for three years, building that chemistry little by little. Now, we may have to do it all over again, with a completely different person."

"Are you worried about losing your Olympic ticket?" Vy asked, her eyes searching.

"I'm worried about the team," Long replied, honestly. "But to be honest, I don't know if I'll be able to adapt quickly to a new partner in the short time left before qualifying."

Vy was silent for a moment, feeling the sincere concern that rarely showed on the outside of her teammate who always seemed calm and in control of everything. "No matter what, I believe Mr. Kiet will find the best solution for the whole team," she said, her voice suddenly becoming gentle.

Long looked at her, somewhat surprised by that change in attitude. "Thank you," he replied, nodding slightly. "I hope so too."

The two stood there for a moment in silence, the hallway lights falling down, creating a rare quiet space between two people who always collided on the field. None of them expected that tomorrow, Coach Kiet's decision would completely change the career trajectory of both of them.