Nguyen Tien Minh – A 43-Year-Old Veteran Survives Vietnam Open 2026 Qualifying

On the morning of September 8, at Nguyen Du Stadium (Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Tien Minh wrote another special chapter in his badminton career by advancing through the qualifying round of the Vietnam Open 2026 to earn a spot in the main draw. At 43 years old, the former world No. 5 proved that age is just a number when passion and tactical awareness remain intact. Minh defeated his younger compatriot Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a doubles specialist, demonstrating that pure singles experience still outweighs raw power and speed. After the match, Minh admitted that his opponent had superior physical strength and speed, but he exploited Thai Son's lack of sharpness in singles play. The victory comes at a time when Vietnamese men's singles badminton is in a difficult transition period. Le Duc Phat, the expected successor to Minh, is struggling with knee and heel injuries and required pain-relief injections. Nguyen Hai Dang, another young hope, was eliminated in qualifying. The Vietnam Open 2026, a BWF Super 100 event, features over 300 players from 27 countries and territories. Despite being a regional tournament rather than a top-tier event, it provides crucial ranking points and valuable exposure for local players. Minh will now face Zhe Ying Wu from Taiwan in the main draw, a much tougher challenge that will test whether his form is sustainable at this stage of his career.