Nguyen Tien Minh wins Vietnam Open 2026 qualifying round: Experience speaks, but look at the space behind

The Vietnam Open 2026 qualifying round ended with a victory that brought joy to Vietnamese badminton fans. Nguyen Tien Minh, the 43-year-old veteran ranked 254th in the world, defeated Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a younger player known for doubles play. This victory, however, should not be read only through emotion. It was a tactical success built on exploiting the opponent's weaknesses in singles positioning. Nguyen Tien Minh used his experience to control the court, moving his opponent away from comfortable zones and turning the match into a lesson on spatial awareness. The limited data available from the match makes it difficult to judge his true form. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese contingent is dealing with injury issues. Le Duc Phat is struggling with knee and heel problems and needed pain relief injections, while Nguyen Hai Dang lost early. The tournament gathers more than 300 players from 27 countries, showing the depth of the regional badminton scene. Nguyen Tien Minh will face Zhe Ying Wu from Taiwan in the next round, which will be a far tougher test. His true legacy lies not in a single qualifying win, but in his ability to continue competing meaningfully at age 43.