Cường, 41, is now Vice Principal of Trưng Vương Secondary School in Phú Thiện commune. After a football-related ligament injury in 2008 forced him to quit the sport, he turned to badminton, learning techniques online and studying professional matches to master the game.
With no proper courts available, Cường and his friends pooled resources to buy nets and shuttlecocks, spending around 3 million VND (US$120), and rented local venues for makeshift courts. In 2020, he founded the Phú Thiện Badminton Club, which has since grown to 30 members of all ages, including several family teams.
Beyond training himself, Cường offers a free badminton class for 20 local children, emphasizing that the ideal age to start is between eight and 14. “My greatest wish is to ignite a passion for sports and show that badminton can thrive even in rural communities like Phú Thiện,” he said.
According to Kpă Loan, Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Phú Thiện commune, Cường’s dedication has made him a cornerstone of the local sports movement. “Although not professionally trained, his enthusiasm and persistence have inspired his family and students, bringing home medals from provincial and national tournaments,” she said.
Cường’s eldest daughter, Nguyễn Minh Khuê, began training at age eight and has become one of Gia Lai province’s most promising young athletes. At the 11th Gia Lai Provincial Phù Đổng Health Festival in 2023, she won three gold medals in women’s singles, doubles, and team events, the first for a Phú Thiện athlete. She later represented Gia Lai at the 2023 National Student Sports Championships, winning bronze in the girls’ singles.
His wife, Bùi Thị Thu Hòa, an art teacher at Phú Thiện Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School, began playing badminton in 2011 and often partners with her daughter in tournaments. Together, they have earned medals at both provincial and national levels.
At the 2024 Gia Lai Provincial Family Badminton and Table Tennis Championships, Cường and Khuê claimed gold in the father–daughter event, while Hòa and Khuê also won gold in the mother–daughter category. The pair later secured silver and bronze medals at the 2024 and 2025 National Family Championships.
In September 2025, Cường teamed up with a local female athlete to win silver in mixed doubles at the national middle-aged and senior badminton championships. Meanwhile, his younger daughter, 10-year-old Nguyễn Gia Hân, earned silver in the girls’ singles at the 2025 Phú Thiện Badminton Tournament, continuing the family legacy.
“Our greatest happiness as a family is training and competing together,” said Hòa. “Each medal is a cherished memory that strengthens our bond and fuels our passion to spread the love of sports in our community.”
