Following her swift 2-0 victory over Tiffany Ho (Australia) in under 30 minutes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Vietnam’s top female badminton player, Nguyen Thuy Linh, expressed her determination to advance to the next round.
Reflecting on her previous Olympic experience, Thuy Linh said, “Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, I didn’t perform well. I won two matches and lost one against a Taiwanese player, finishing second in my group of four, which meant I had to exit the competition early. That was a painful lesson that has driven me to be more determined and put in more effort for this return to the Olympic stage. Being drawn into a group with only three players, I knew I had a chance, although this arena is never easy.”
Thuy Linh continued, “Playing just two matches to decide the group leader advancing to the knockout stage is advantageous, as it saves energy compared to battling through three matches. Additionally, starting against a relatively easier opponent and progressing to tougher competition helps build confidence. I conserved energy by defeating Tiffany Ho quickly and am now ready for the crucial match at 8:30 AM (1:30 PM Vietnam time) on July 31 against Beiwen Zhang from the USA.”
Commenting on her upcoming opponent, Thuy Linh noted, “Beiwen Zhang is a strong player, ranked 11th in the IBF (International Badminton Federation) rankings, more than 10 places above me. This alone shows how tough the match will be. Although I defeated her at the 2023 Canada Open, that was in the past, and she has improved significantly since then. While I won against Tiffany Ho with scores of 21/6 and 21/3, Zhang also had a swift victory with scores of 21/9 and 21/4. She is indeed a formidable and well-matched opponent. I will need to be very focused and seize any opportunity.”
Despite acknowledging the strength of her opponent, the talented and beautiful face of Vietnamese badminton remained optimistic. Thuy Linh expressed her hope of playing with enthusiasm and making a mark to advance to the round of 16.
Experts Hariawan and Coach Chu Viet Bac offered cautious optimism, advising that Thuy Linh needs to maintain her composure and avoid being overly buoyant after an easy win. They emphasized the importance of not underestimating the challenge ahead and learning from past experiences, particularly her early exit in Tokyo due to not managing her energy and focus properly. Both mentors are confident that Thuy Linh will showcase a fiery and compelling performance in the decisive match against the American player, inspiring fans back home.
This match against Beiwen Zhang will be crucial, as the winner will secure the only available spot from their group for the knockout stage. The Vietnamese badminton community and fans are eagerly awaiting Thuy Linh’s performance, hoping for a memorable display that will propel her further in the tournament.
Leave a Reply