Hanoi, April 2, 2025 – Vietnam badminton team is primed for the Asian Badminton Championships, set to take place from April 8-13 in Ningbo, China. With a mix of seasoned stars and rising talents, the squad faces a blend of tough challenges and promising opportunities as they vie for continental glory.
Nguyen Thuy Linh, Vietnam’s top women’s singles player, is slated for a blockbuster clash against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, a former world No. 1 and current world No. 3. Linh, ranked 26th globally, has been in fine form, reaching the German Open final in March and securing a bronze at the 2024 Vietnam Open. Her matchup with Yamaguchi—a two-time world champion—promises a thrilling test of skill and resilience.
In men’s singles, Le Duc Phat, alongside the mixed doubles pair Pham Van Hai and Than Van Anh, hold strong prospects of advancing to the main draw. Drawn in a qualifying group with two lower-ranked opponents, Phat—fresh off a quarterfinal run at the 2024 Hylo Open—aims to capitalize on his momentum. Similarly, Hai and Anh, ranked 68th in mixed doubles, are favored to progress past their less heralded rivals.
The men’s doubles duo Nguyen Dinh Hoang and Tran Dinh Manh, champions of the Vietnam International Challenge 2025 in March, face a steeper climb. Ranked 117th, they’re pitted in the qualifiers against a closely matched Hong Kong pair (world No. 115). Their title win in Hanoi showcased their synergy, but this evenly poised battle will demand peak performance to secure a main-draw spot.
Elsewhere, Vietnam’s women’s doubles teams—Tran Dinh Manh with Pham Thi Khanh, and Pham Thi Dieu Ly with Pham Thi Khanh—landed in tough groups. They’ll face high-caliber pairs from Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia, all ranked significantly higher. Khanh, pulling double duty, will need to summon extra grit alongside her partners to defy the odds.
With Nguyen Thuy Linh leading the charge and emerging talents like Le Duc Phat in the mix, Vietnam aims to surpass their 2023 quarterfinal finish. The Ningbo showdown offers a shot at medals and crucial BWF ranking points, setting the stage for a defining week in Vietnam’s badminton journey.
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