July 31 marks a critical day for Vietnamese athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with decisive matches lined up for badminton players Nguyen Thuy Linh and Le Duc Phat, and archer Do Thi Anh Nguyet. These matches will determine whether they can advance to the next rounds in their respective sports.
In the badminton singles events, athletes are divided into 13 groups, each comprising 3 or 4 players. Only the top player from each group advances to the knockout stage. Therefore, winning all group matches is crucial for advancement.
Nguyen Thuy Linh, who competes in the women’s singles, had an easy win against Australia’s Tiffany Ho, setting a positive tone for her upcoming match. Thuy Linh is set to face Beiwen Zhang from the USA at 8:30 AM (1:30 PM Vietnam time) on July 31. On the other hand, Le Duc Phat, Vietnam’s flag bearer, will play against India’s Prannoy H.S. at 7:30 PM (12:30 AM Vietnam time) on August 1.
Indonesian coach Hariawan commented, “Both opponents for our Vietnamese players are formidable. Beiwen Zhang, a Chinese-American player, has a powerful playing style and quick footwork. However, we have strategies for Thuy Linh, and she knows how to handle such a playstyle, having faced Zhang before.”
Nguyen Thuy Linh expressed her determination, “I respect Zhang, a strong opponent, and I am preparing both mentally and physically for a possible three-game battle. I missed out in the group stage at the 2020 Olympics due to facing a very strong opponent from Taiwan. This time, against a more evenly matched competitor, I hope for a better outcome.”
Le Duc Phat faces a tougher challenge against Prannoy H.S., currently ranked 13th by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) and a strong contender with notable achievements. Coach Hariawan emphasized the difficulty of the match, noting the significant skill gap between Prannoy and Duc Phat. Coach Chu Viet Bac encouraged, “While the match is challenging, sports are unpredictable, and we hope to help Phat maintain his composure and focus, potentially leading to an upset.”
In archery, Do Thi Anh Nguyet will compete in the knockout round of the women’s individual recurve at 7:42 PM (12:42 AM Vietnam time) on July 31 against Iran’s Mobina Fallah. Both archers have similar qualifications; Anh Nguyet scored 648 points, placing her 37th in the ranking round, while Fallah scored 652 points, ranking 28th.
Coach Park Chae-soon from the Vietnamese archery team believes Anh Nguyet has a good chance of advancing, as Fallah’s performance has not been significantly superior. He noted that Fallah had three shots scoring six points each in her final rounds, while Anh Nguyet did not score below eight.
Anh Nguyet shared her thoughts, “This is my second Olympic appearance, and I hope to surpass my previous performance. At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, I scored 628 points, ranking 49th out of 64. This time, I scored 648 points, placing 37th, showing positive progress. I hope to keep my nerves under control and beat the Iranian archer to make it into the top 32.”
As these athletes step into their crucial matches, the support and hopes of Vietnam are with them, with the potential for significant achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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