Bangkok, 7 December 2025 – Though she won her opening match, Vietnam’s top badminton star Nguyen Thuy Linh said she felt the umpire favored Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa during the women’s team event at SEA Games 33.
Vietnamese shuttler Nguyen Thuy Linh expressed strong frustration after defeating Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa in the women’s team event at SEA Games 33 on the morning of 7 December, saying the umpire made several biased calls that nearly cost her the match.
In the decisive third game, when both players were locked point-for-point, Thuy Linh said two shots from Letshanaa clearly landed out but were ruled in, giving Malaysia free points. She added that another tight shuttle—“50-50” in her words—was also awarded to her opponent.
“I was extremely frustrated. If the tournament had the challenger system, I would have used it immediately,” Thuy Linh said after the match. “I felt the umpire was biased toward my opponent. But what can I do? I have nothing to lose or fear. The only thing I can do is keep fighting forward.”
Despite dropping the first game 15–21, Thuy Linh stormed back in the second with a dominant 21–10. The third game was tense and full of momentum swings. After Letshanaa gained a 12–7 lead—helped by several contentious umpire decisions—Thuy Linh regrouped emotionally, calmly clawing back point by point until she levelled the score at 18–18.
Facing two match points, the Vietnamese star saved both, then completed a thrilling comeback to win 23–21. It turned out to be Vietnam’s lone victory in the tie, as her teammates later lost all three remaining matches, resulting in an overall 1–3 defeat.
With the women’s team event concluded, Thuy Linh will now focus entirely on the women’s singles, where she is considered Vietnam’s strongest medal hope. The draw will take place on 10 December, though Thuy Linh acknowledged the challenge ahead: SEA Games 33 features some of the world’s best shuttlers.
“SEA Games this year is full of top players—even those in the world’s top 10—while I’m only ranked 22,” she admitted. “I’m not seeded, so I just hope for some luck in the draw. A favourable group or bracket could help me progress deeper. But no matter what, I always step onto the court for the national flag. I never give up easily.”
Born on 20 November 1997 in Phu Tho, Nguyen Thuy Linh began competing professionally at age 14 and became national champion at 18. Since 2018, she has been Vietnam’s No.1 female player, winning eight consecutive national singles titles and three straight Vietnam Open crowns. She also represented Vietnam at two Olympic Games—Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
As SEA Games 33 continues, Thuy Linh’s fighting spirit and resilience remain a source of pride for Vietnamese badminton fans.
Huyen Thanh
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