Malaysia, 20 May 2026 – Nguyen Thuy Linh produced an impressive comeback victory to reach the second round of the women’s singles event at the Malaysia Masters 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament with a total prize pool of 500,000 USD.
On May 20, the Vietnamese No.1 player, currently ranked 21st in the world, defeated Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching, who is ranked 33rd globally, in a thrilling three-game battle.
Backed by strong home support, Wong Ling Ching started aggressively and caused plenty of problems for Nguyen Thuy Linh with her fast and unpredictable style. The Malaysian player dominated the opening game to win 21-12.
However, Nguyen Thuy Linh responded strongly in the second game. The Vietnamese star relied on her consistency, patience, and smart shot placement to regain control and level the match with a convincing 21-13 victory.
The deciding game turned into a dramatic showdown. Nguyen Thuy Linh initially held a comfortable 11-6 lead, but Wong Ling Ching fought back to equalize at 14-14. The two players then exchanged points in a tense battle before the Malaysian moved ahead 20-18, putting Nguyen Thuy Linh on the brink of defeat.
Despite the pressure, Vietnam’s top badminton player showed remarkable composure and determination. She saved multiple match points, tied the score at 20-20, and eventually completed a stunning comeback with a 25-23 victory.
After 71 minutes of intense competition, Nguyen Thuy Linh officially secured her place in the second round of the women’s singles draw. She will next face Pitchamon Opatniputh of Thailand, who is currently ranked 27th in the world.
The Malaysia Masters 2026 is part of the Badminton World Federation World Tour Super 500 series. By reaching the Round of 16, Nguyen Thuy Linh has guaranteed herself at least 3,600 ranking points along with 1,750 USD in prize money.
VSN/RPT
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