Nguyen Tien Minh, 43, Wins Qualifier at Vietnam Open 2026, Advances to Main Draw

On the evening of September 8, 2026, at Nguyen Du Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, badminton fans in Vietnam witnessed a typical Nguyen Tien Minh victory in the men's singles qualifier of the Vietnam Open 2026. At 43, the former world No.5 still displayed brilliant court craft against his younger opponent Nguyen Hoang Thai Son – a player nearly 20 years his junior, blessed with power and speed but lacking experience in singles. From the very beginning, Minh adopted a cautious approach, using deep clears to push Thai Son into tireless movement. Son, accustomed to the narrow confines of doubles play, left gaping holes when forced to cover the entire court. “He has strength and physicality, but his positioning in singles is still raw. I exploited that,” Minh said after the match. The victory sends Nguyen Tien Minh into the main draw, where he is set to face Chinese Taipei’s Wu Zhe Ying, a rising player in recent Super 100 events. Although expectations are tempered, Minh’s chances are not slim given that his opponent is not a top-tier Asian player. Beyond Minh’s success, the tournament has seen poignant stories within the Vietnamese team. Le Duc Phat, a young hope in men's singles, is competing while battling knee and heel injuries, requiring pain-relief injections. His wife’s presence in the stands provided emotional support as he pushed through physical pain. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Dang was eliminated in the qualifying round, further exposing the lack of depth behind Minh. This underscores how much Vietnamese men’s singles still depends on a 43-year-old veteran as the younger generation struggles with persistent injuries. In women’s singles, top Vietnamese player Nguyen Thuy Linh faces Xu Wen Jing, a 19-year-old from Chinese Taipei, in the first round. The Vietnam Open 2026 is part of the BWF Super 100 circuit, an important ranking-point event for mid-tier players. More than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories are competing from September 8-13. While it is not a high-level event like Super 750 or 1000, Minh’s presence remains an inspiration for youngsters. But behind the admirable persistence of a legend lies the hard truth that Vietnam’s men’s singles team is relying on a 43-year-old while the next generation grapples with recurring injuries. Le Duc Phat and Nguyen Hai Dang have not shown the consistency required to inherit Minh’s legacy. Without a long-term youth development strategy, Vietnamese badminton may continue to lean on an aging golden generation. For Minh himself, every international match at this stage is like a gift. “I’m not young anymore, but I still love badminton. Every time I step on court, I feel young again,” he said after the qualifier that has opened a chance to face a stronger opponent in the next round. Whatever the outcome, Nguyen Tien Minh’s perseverance at the 2026 Vietnam Open is a reminder that sport is not only about victory — it is a story of a relentless passion. And as Minh has often said: “Play beautiful, and victory will be the reward.” The younger generation should look up to him and learn to overcome themselves.