Nguyen Tien Minh, 43, advances: A victory of experience at Vietnam Open 2026

When Nguyen Tien Minh stepped onto the court against Nguyen Hoang Thai Son in the Vietnam Open 2026 qualifiers, few expected an easy victory. But the sofa taught me that an empty stadium can still echo with applause – and at 43, Minh still knows how to create sound from his opponent's silence. He no longer has the speed of youth, nor the jumping power of his prime, but the way he reads the game is something not everyone possesses. The tournament's context is unique. The Vietnam Open 2026 is a BWF Super 100 event held from September 8 to 13, bringing together more than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories. It is not a top-tier competition, but rather a place for players to accumulate ranking points, gain experience, and rediscover their rhythm. For Nguyen Tien Minh, currently ranked 254th in the world, this is another stop to prove that age is just a number. His opponent in the qualifying round was Nguyen Hoang Thai Son – a younger player but primarily a doubles specialist. Minh himself admitted after the match: “He is not strong in singles, but he has power and speed.” That was the key to the match. There were no statistics on smash speed, no data on net drops or rally length, but what spectators felt was the difference in specialization. Minh, with more than two decades of high-level experience, knew how to exploit the gaps left by a doubles expert when forced to move alone on court. This victory was not unexpected for those who watch closely. When you have a seasoned singles player facing someone used to coordinating at the net, the story often revolves around tempo and consistency. Minh chose a safe approach: sending the shuttle deep, limiting opportunities for his opponent to charge forward. It was a smart strategy, though not flashy – enough to advance him to the main draw. The main draw, however, presents another challenge. Nguyen Tien Minh will face Zhe Ying Wu (Taiwanese Taipei), a young player with pure singles style. This is when Minh's experience must be maximized, but also when physical differences may become apparent. The age issue is always a concern for his supporters. Yet his performance in the qualifier suggests he is not ready to stop. On the same day, Vietnamese badminton received mixed news. Le Duc Phat, currently the top Vietnamese singles player, needed pain-killing injections due to knee and heel injuries. Whether he can play or must withdraw remains uncertain. Nguyen Hai Dang had already exited early. In this context, the presence of a veteran like Nguyen Tien Minh becomes even more valuable, like a torchbearer. The microphone holder does not judge; it only shines a light on the shuttle. But here, that light is illuminating a persistent journey. A counter-intuitive perspective: beating Nguyen Hoang Thai Son does not tell us much about Minh's actual form. Defeating a doubles specialist lacking in singles movement and tactics is different from facing powerful, pure singles players. A qualifying win at a Super 100 event against an opponent with clear weaknesses can create an illusion of form. Looking at data, there are no specific numbers for smash speed, unforced errors, or head-to-head win rates. Those numbers would tell the true story of a match. One might believe Minh continues to compete at 43 out of pure passion, as he has said he still enjoys playing. But another viewpoint exists: his presence in smaller tournaments is not just about inspiration; it reflects the emptiness in Vietnam's men's singles reserves. When Le Duc Phat is injured, when Nguyen Hai Dang has not yet risen, people look to a man who once reached world No. 8 in 2026. That brings pride but also serves as a reminder that the next generation has not truly taken over. Looking at the broader tournament picture, Vietnam Open 2026 can be seen as a platform for young regional players to gain experience. Over 300 participants highlight the appeal of a Super 100 event in Southeast Asia. However, the technical level is not top-tier, as leading Asian players are absent. This offers opportunities for mid-ranked athletes to collect points but also reveals that Vietnamese badminton is in transition, with no dominant new generation yet. What I learned from Nguyen Tien Minh is not how he won, but how he keeps standing up through the years. He stepped off the court to go on air, but has never truly left the court. At 43, he still gives fans moments that make them rise and cheer. That alone is enough to affirm that an athlete's value is not only measured by scores or rankings, but also by dedication and an unquenchable desire. The question for Vietnamese badminton is not how far Minh can go in this tournament, but who will carry the torch after he retires. A shot has three truths: the player's, the umpire's, and the spectator's. If the player has given everything, the umpire confirms the result, then spectators must also stay clear-eyed about the future – where new Nguyen Tien Minhs need to emerge.