Hanoi, 31 August, 2025 – Vietnam’s number one badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh was eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2025 BWF World Championships after a straight-games defeat to China’s Chen Yufei, but the result still secures her a rise on the world ranking ladder.
In the last match of the women’s singles round of 16 on the morning of August 29, Thuy Linh could not pull off another upset against the fourth seed and Olympic champion. Facing Chen, a former world number one and gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Vietnamese shuttler was outclassed, losing quickly 10-21, 9-21. With her exit, Vietnam no longer has any representatives left at this year’s tournament in Paris.
The defeat meant Thuy Linh missed the chance to make history as the first Vietnamese women’s singles player ever to reach the quarterfinals of the World Championships. However, her earlier victories over former world number one Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour highlighted her growing ability to compete at the highest level.
By advancing to the last 16, Thuy Linh earns 6,000 BWF ranking points, a valuable addition that will help her climb an estimated three to four spots when the updated world rankings are released next week. That will likely see her re-enter the Top 20, edging closer to her career-high of world No.18 achieved on July 22, 2025. If she maintains this momentum, Thuy Linh has the opportunity to break her personal record and set a new milestone for Vietnamese badminton.
The BWF ranking system is crucial, as it determines seeding positions at international tournaments. A higher ranking not only helps avoid early clashes with top-seeded players but also builds confidence for athletes ahead of major competitions such as the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic qualification cycle.
The World Championships remain one of badminton’s two most prestigious tournaments alongside the Olympic Games, with both events awarding 14,500 points to champions. This year’s women’s singles quarterfinals underline the dominance of the sport’s elite, as all the spots were filled by seeded players within the world’s top 16.
For Vietnam, Thuy Linh’s round-of-16 appearance was the best result at this year’s tournament. Other representatives exited earlier: Vu Thi Trang and the men’s doubles pair Nguyen Dinh Hoang / Tran Dinh Manh bowed out in the second round, while men’s singles players Le Duc Phat and Nguyen Hai Dang were eliminated in the opening round.
Despite falling short of a breakthrough, Thuy Linh’s performance in Paris is another step forward for Vietnamese badminton on the global stage. Her consistency and steady climb in the rankings suggest brighter days ahead as she continues to challenge the world’s best.
Hong Men
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