Nguyen Tien Minh – The 43-year-old veteran still burns bright at Vietnam Open 2026

The qualifying court of the Vietnam Open 2026 witnessed an emotional scene: Nguyễn Tiến Minh, at 43, still ran across the court as if time had never touched his legs. After a delicate drop shot sealed the match, he looked to the stands and smiled like a young man. For Vietnamese badminton fans, that was a moment of pride. The Vietnam Open 2026, a BWF Super 100 event held in Ho Chi Minh City from September 8 to 13, attracted more than 300 athletes from 27 countries. Minh, ranked 254th in the world, defeated younger doubles specialist Nguyễn Hoàng Thái Sơn in the men's singles qualifier. Minh's victory was not based on power or speed, but on tactical intelligence, exploiting his opponent's inexperience in singles. Lê Đức Phát, another Vietnamese player, struggled with knee and heel injuries and needed pain-killing injections to compete, while Nguyễn Hải Đăng lost early. The win once again highlighted the lack of a strong young generation behind Vietnam's legendary veteran. Minh, whose career spans over two decades, remains a symbol of resilience. But his continued presence at the age of 43 raises questions about the future of Vietnamese badminton. Could he still compete at higher levels? Perhaps not. Yet his fighting spirit serves as an inspiring example for younger players to step up.