Vietnam badminton team bows out early at 2025 Asia Championships

Ningbo, April 10, 2025 – Vietnam’s badminton contingent has been entirely knocked out of the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships, currently underway at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, China. The last Vietnamese player standing, Nguyen Thuy Linh, bowed out in the women’s singles first round on April 9, marking an early exit for the team across all disciplines.

Nguyen Thuy Linh, ranked 26th in the latest BWF women’s singles world rankings, faced third-seeded Japanese star Akane Yamaguchi in her opening match. Despite a spirited effort, Thuy Linh couldn’t seize control. She traded points in a tight contest but fell 0-2 (18-21, 17-21) after 40 minutes, ending her tournament run. Yamaguchi, a former world No. 1 and two-time Asian champion, proved too strong, advancing to the round of 16.

Elsewhere, Vietnam’s women’s doubles pair, Pham Thi Dieu Ly and Pham Thi Khanh, also exited in the first round of the main draw. Facing Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, the Vietnamese duo lost 0-2 (scores unavailable), unable to counter the precision and power of their opponents. Vietnam sent eight players to compete in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, but none advanced past the initial stage.

This year’s early elimination continues a tough trend for Vietnam at the Asian Championships. Over the past three editions—2023 in Dubai, 2024 in Ningbo, and now 2025—Vietnamese shuttlers have struggled to progress beyond the opening rounds, despite their best efforts against Asia’s elite. The Super 1000 event, offering a $500,000 prize pool, features top talents like China’s Shi Yuqi and Japan’s Chen Yufei, underscoring the steep competition.

Nguyen Thuy Linh’s defeat closes Vietnam’s campaign, with no players reaching the second round. The team now shifts focus to upcoming events, including the SEA Games, hoping to regroup and challenge Asia’s badminton powerhouses. For now, Vietnam watches from the sidelines as the 42nd Asian Championships, running April 8-13, crown the continent’s best.