South Korea, 8 November 2025 – Vietnam’s No.1 female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh continued her remarkable form at the Korea Masters 2025, overcoming Japan’s Hina Akechi 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) in the semifinals on November 8 to reach the final of a BWF Super 300 tournament for the fourth time in her career.
Displaying world-class consistency and composure, Nguyen Thuy Linh earned a straight-game victory over Japan’s Hina Akechi to secure her spot in the Korea Masters 2025 final. The Vietnamese star, ranked No. 24 in the world, needed just 40 minutes to seal the 21-11, 21-17 win, extending her unbeaten run without dropping a single set throughout the tournament.
The match took place at the Korea Masters, a BWF World Tour Super 300 event hosted in Iksan, Jeonbuk Province, South Korea, from November 4 to 9. With several top players, including Kim Ga Eun (Korea) and Manami Suizu (Japan), withdrawing, Thuy Linh entered as the second seed, giving her an advantageous path toward the final.
Facing Hina Akechi, a 20-year-old rising star ranked No. 57 in the world and a former BWF junior No.1, Thuy Linh demonstrated superior tactical awareness and precision. The Vietnamese player controlled the rallies early, using deep clears, sharp cross-court drops, and well-timed net plays to tire out her opponent. She quickly built a 6-3 lead, stretched it to 11-5, and dominated to close the first game 21-11.
Akechi switched rackets in the second game and attempted to change tactics, narrowing the scoreline to 6-7 at one stage. However, Thuy Linh maintained focus, executing deep baseline clears and precise cross-court shots under the guidance of Coach Bui Bang Duc during the mid-game interval.
Although the Japanese player mounted a brief comeback to level 14-14, Thuy Linh’s calm under pressure proved decisive. She reeled off three consecutive points to lead 17-14 before sealing victory 21-17 after an error from Akechi.
The triumph marked Nguyen Thuy Linh’s fourth career final appearance in a BWF Super 300 tournament — an achievement underscoring her growing consistency at the international level. In the final, she will face top seed Chiu Pin-chian of Taiwan, currently ranked 20th in the world.
Born on November 20, 1997, in Phu Tho, Thuy Linh turned professional at the age of 14 and captured her first national elite title in 2015. Since 2018, she has reigned as Vietnam’s No.1 women’s player, winning eight consecutive national championships and three straight Vietnam Open titles (2022–2024). A two-time Olympian (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), she continues to be Vietnam’s brightest hope on the global badminton stage.
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