China, 17 September, 2025 – Vietnam’s No.1 women’s badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh was forced to retire during her opening match at the China Masters 2025 on September 17 due to an ankle injury.
The tournament, part of the BWF World Tour Super 750 series, offers a prize pool of USD 1.25 million and has attracted all of the world’s top women’s singles players. Entering ranked 18th in the world, Thuy Linh faced Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min, the world No.15, in a much-anticipated first-round clash.
The opening set was tightly contested, with both players exchanging points in a tense battle. Thuy Linh managed to edge ahead 19-18 late in the game, but a series of unforced errors cost her dearly, as Yeo recovered to claim the set 21-19.
At the start of the second set, Thuy Linh quickly fell behind 0-3. Struggling with visible discomfort, she raised her hand to the umpire and retired from the match. The decision marked an abrupt and disappointing end to her campaign in Quangdong.
“I am sorry, everyone,” Thuy Linh wrote on her personal page after the match. “Today’s outcome is something I, or any athlete, never wish to see. I have never wanted the word ‘retired’ to appear on my competition record. I tried my best, but the pain in my foot and ankle over the past few days prevented me from moving normally. Before the match, I consulted the doctor and was warned of the risk of worsening the injury, even a ligament rupture, if I continued recklessly.”
The setback comes just days after Thuy Linh endured a demanding schedule at the Vietnam Open 2025, where she played five matches en route to finishing as runner-up on September 14. She then immediately traveled to China, leaving her with little time to recover before facing elite opposition again.
“Thank you to all the fans for following, supporting, and understanding me,” she added. “I will focus on recovery and hope to return strongly at upcoming tournaments.”
Born on November 20, 1997, in Phu Tho, Thuy Linh began playing professionally at the age of 14 and claimed the national elite championship title in 2015 at just 18 years old. She has since established herself as Vietnam’s leading women’s singles player, winning the national individual championship seven times in a row. She also won the Vietnam Open three consecutive times from 2022 to 2024, before narrowly missing out on a fourth straight crown this year.
Thuy Linh has represented Vietnam at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking her as one of the nation’s most accomplished badminton athletes. While her immediate focus is on recovery, fans remain hopeful she will return in peak condition to continue chasing international success.
Thai Ha
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