Nguyen Tien Minh overcomes Vietnam Open 2026 qualifiers: Victory of experience over doubles specialist

In the morning of September 9, 2026, at Nguyen Du Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City), 43-year-old veteran Nguyen Tien Minh (world No. 254) earned a place in the main draw of the Vietnam Open 2026 badminton tournament after a convincing 2-0 win over his junior Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a player known more as a doubles specialist. This victory was seen by experts as within expectations, as Thai Son lacks international singles experience. Nguyen Tien Minh said: "I noted that my opponent was not truly strong in singles, despite his speed and power. Experience allowed me to control the match and exploit his weaknesses." The former national champion added: "At 43, I no longer have the best acceleration, but I have the ability to read the game and keep a steady mind." The match took place in the context of the Vietnam Open 2026 being a Super 100 event in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) system, held from September 8 to 13. This year's tournament gathered over 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories, but without the participation of top Asian players such as China or Indonesia. This gives host players a chance to earn ranking points and gain experience. Besides Nguyen Tien Minh, other Vietnamese male shuttlers faced difficulties. Le Duc Phat, currently Vietnam’s No. 1, had to take painkiller injections for knee and heel injuries before the tournament, greatly affecting his performance. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Dang was eliminated in the qualifying round. In the women’s singles, Nguyen Thuy Linh only managed to overcome a 19-year-old Taiwanese player. From a technical perspective, Nguyen Tien Minh’s victory reflects differences in playing style. Thai Son leans towards doubles with fast handling and wide movement, but when switching to singles, he lacked patience and tactical energy management. In contrast, Minh possesses good rhythm control, efficient footwork, and uses short balls to trouble his opponent. However, specialists also noted that this type of win does not yet prove Minh’s true strength, since he faced an opponent weaker in singles. According to tournament statistics, although detailed data on smash speed or error counts are not available, Minh’s reasonable match duration and stability were positive signs. Yet, a veteran at 43 like Minh will face a bigger challenge in the main draw when he meets Zhe Ying Wu (Taiwan), who has a higher ranking and younger legs. This is an opportunity for Minh to show that experience can compensate for physical decline. Strategically, Le Duc Phat’s injury highlights a lack of succession in Vietnam’s men’s singles. Minh’s presence at 43 shows that generational transition is still difficult. Experts suggest that the Vietnam Badminton Federation should invest more in youth and improve the sports medical system to avoid prolonged injuries like Phat’s. Nguyen Tien Minh’s first-round main draw match is scheduled for September 10. Although his chances of advancing deep are not high, his fighting spirit and passion can fuel hopes among Vietnamese badminton fans for a memorable display from the former world No. 5.