Nguyen Tien Minh gets through Vietnam Open 2026 qualifiers: Experience neutralizes youth

Nguyen Tien Minh, a 43-year-old Vietnamese shuttler, has secured a main-draw spot in the men's singles of the Vietnam Open 2026 after beating his younger teammate Nguyen Hoang Thai Son in the qualifiers. Although his rival was younger and physically stronger, Minh said he relied on experience to exploit the weaknesses of a player primarily focused on doubles. 'Hoang Thai Son is not strong in singles; he has strength and speed, but I used my experience to control the match,' Minh said. The former Vietnamese No.1, currently ranked 254th in the world, continues to compete at a high level at age 43. Several teammates are struggling: Le Duc Phat needed pain-killing injections for knee and heel injuries, while Nguyen Hai Dang was eliminated in the qualifiers. This highlights a transition in Vietnamese men's singles, with the veteran still serving as a pillar. Vietnam Open 2026 is a BWF Super 100 event held from September 8 to 13, featuring more than 300 players from 27 countries and territories. In the main draw, Nguyen Tien Minh will face Zhe Ying Wu of Taiwan. In women's singles, Nguyen Thuy Linh is scheduled to meet 19-year-old Xu Wen Jing. The tournament not only offers BWF ranking points but also gives Vietnamese players valuable international exposure at home, although there is no significant influx of young talent yet.