Nguyen Thuy Linh’s hopes of making history at the Paris 2024 Olympics were dashed after a narrow defeat. Following her victory over Tiffany Ho, Thuy Linh was on the verge of becoming the first Vietnamese female badminton player to progress beyond the group stage at the Olympics. However, her path was blocked by Beiwen Zhang of the United States, ranked 11th in the world.
In 2023, Thuy Linh had faced Beiwen Zhang at the Finland Open, where she won in a hard-fought three-game match. However, Zhang showed significant improvement in 2024, making the rematch at the Olympics even more challenging for the Vietnamese player.
Thuy Linh matched her opponent in skill and determination, keeping pace in both games. The first game was a tight contest, with both players exchanging points. However, in the crucial moments, Zhang managed to edge out Thuy Linh, winning 22-20.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Thuy Linh showcased her skills with some brilliant shots but made critical errors that cost her key points. Once again, Zhang proved more composed in the decisive moments, securing another 22-20 victory to win the match 2-0.
With this result, Zhang topped Group K and advanced to the knockout stages, while Thuy Linh’s journey ended, missing the chance to make Olympic history for Vietnam. Despite the loss, Thuy Linh’s performance was commendable, as she stood toe-to-toe with a higher-ranked opponent and displayed a high level of play.
Looking forward, Vietnamese badminton still has hope in Le Duc Phat, who won his opening match. He will face a critical challenge against Prannoy of India, a strong contender, in a match that will determine who advances to the round of 16. The match is scheduled for 0:30 on August 1st, and fans are eager to see if Duc Phat can continue his impressive run.
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