Nguyen Tien Minh, 43, Wins Vietnam Open 2026 Qualifier: Tactics of Experience

Nguyen Tien Minh, the 43-year-old shuttler ranked 254th in the world, advanced to the main draw of the Vietnam Open 2026 after beating Nguyen Hoang Thai Son in the qualifiers. The match took place at the BWF Super 100 tournament held from September 8 to 13, 2026, with more than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories. In the next round, the former world No. 5 will face Wu Zhe Ying of Chinese Taipei. But the story does not stop at the result. Nguyen Tien Minh admitted that his advantage came from a difference in specialisation. “My opponent has power and speed, but he is not strong in singles. I used that weakness,” Minh said after the match. Nguyen Hoang Thai Son primarily plays doubles. Switching to singles in the qualifiers made it difficult for the younger player to maintain stable positioning and movement rhythm. The former world No. 5 used his experience to neutralise the opponent’s dangerous counter-attacks. The Vietnam Open 2026 is a BWF Super 100 event. For young players, it is a chance to earn ranking points and gain international experience. For Nguyen Tien Minh, the tournament is also a way to maintain competitive sharpness at the age of 43. Winning a qualifier does not say much about peak form, especially against a player not specialising in singles, but it shows Minh’s reading of the game is still rare in Vietnam. In the past, Minh caused surprises at major tournaments thanks to his patient play, intelligent movement, and ability to handle pressure. At 43, physical strength is no longer his main weapon, but sound tactics can make up for much of that. The same day, other Vietnamese players had mixed results. Le Duc Phat, the country’s hope in men’s singles, needed pain-relief injections before the tournament because of knee and heel injuries. His wife was seen courtside, which experts considered a mental boost, but that does not remove the injury risk. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Dang was eliminated early. In women’s singles, Nguyen Thuy Linh is scheduled to face 19-year-old Xu Wen Jing in a main-draw match. Looking at the entry list, Vietnamese men’s singles are in a transition period. Nguyen Tien Minh is still competing at 43, Le Duc Phat is injured, and Nguyen Hai Dang has not yet made a breakthrough. The absence of strong players from China, Indonesia, or Japan makes this Vietnam Open less demanding, but it also shows the gap between Vietnamese badminton and the top tier of Asian badminton remains large. For a Super 100 event, competing against suitable rivals may help home players earn points, but it is not a proper yardstick for higher ambitions. Nguyen Tien Minh has often said he plays for passion. After the qualifier win, he said he is no longer young, but competing with younger players still brings him joy. His tactics, however, are not based on emotion alone. The former No. 1 of Vietnam tried to drag his opponent into long rallies, limiting Nguyen Hoang Thai Son’s power with lifts and changes of pace. Rarely did Minh unleash powerful smashes in this match; instead, he placed the shuttle accurately to the backcourt, forcing his younger rival to move constantly and make mistakes. This style may not produce flashy highlights, but it worked against a doubles player used to a smaller coverage area. The Vietnam Open 2026, with more than 300 athletes, shows the regional appeal of the tournament. Hosting a Super 100 event is a suitable step to promote Vietnamese badminton and give young players international exposure at home. However, to build a strong next generation, the youth training system needs more investment in sports science and medicine. Le Duc Phat is a prime example: knee and heel injuries prevented him from performing at his best. Relying only on painkillers is a short-term solution and not sustainable. Without proper investment in sports medicine, talents like Le Duc Phat may soon be trapped in a cycle of injuries. As for Nguyen Tien Minh, the biggest question has always been when he will stop. Beating a player 15 years younger does not prove much, because Nguyen Hoang Thai Son’s singles ability is inconsistent. But it gives fans another glimpse of Minh competing stubbornly in the twilight of his career. Facing Wu Zhe Ying in the next round will be the real test. If Minh wins, experts may start discussing a deeper run. If he loses, it is not a disaster, because expectations for a 43-year-old should be realistic. Nguyen Tien Minh is no longer fighting for SEA Games medals or Super 1000 titles. His success is now measured by moments when he still knows how to win, even without youth. Overall, the first day of the Vietnam Open 2026 was marked by the emotional return of veteran Nguyen Tien Minh, but it also exposed internal issues in Vietnamese badminton. The youth development system needs time, sports medicine needs upgrading, and international tournaments should be held more often. Seeing a 43-year-old still carrying the media attention is a positive signal, but it is also a reminder that the next generation is not ready to take over. Nguyen Tien Minh may win a few more matches, but the biggest victory Vietnamese badminton needs is a young generation strong enough so that fans do not have to count each match of an old warrior.