Veteran Nguyen Tien Minh overcomes qualifying round at Vietnam Open 2026 at age 43

When the stand was empty, I could hear the shuttlecock telling its story. At a side court of Nguyen Du Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, on the afternoon of September 8, 2026, a 43-year-old player with gray-flecked hair stepped onto the court. Nguyen Tien Minh – a Vietnamese badminton legend – was competing in the qualifying round of Vietnam Open 2026, part of the BWF Super 100 circuit. His opponent was Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a young player nearly 20 years his junior, who had just finished a men's doubles semifinal a few hours earlier. Not many believed in a Minh victory, but he closed the match in two straight sets, 21-17, 21-14. This win not only brought Minh closer to the main draw, but also opened an interesting discussion about the value of experience in a sport that prizes speed and power. The Vietnam Open 2026 is a Super 100 event in the BWF World Tour. The tournament this year attracted more than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories, an impressive number for a lower-tier event. Compared to tournaments like the Vietnam International Challenge or the Super 1000 stops, this event offers modest ranking points and prize money, but it is an ideal destination for players looking to accumulate points or for young athletes seeking international exposure. For the Vietnamese badminton team, playing on home soil is always an opportunity to showcase their skills without traveling far. Nguyen Tien Minh's presence, even at age 43, created a special highlight. He is currently ranked 254th in the world, a modest position compared to his career peak, but still capable of competing at this level. In the match against Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, what impressed me was not the powerful smashes, but how Minh controlled the game. Thai Son possesses a tall physique, good jumping ability, and especially confidence after competing in doubles. However, singles is a completely different story. In doubles, players often cover only a portion of the court, moving laterally most of the time. In singles, the athlete must cover the entire rectangular court, with continuous long up-and-down movements. This difference created gaps that Minh exploited thoroughly. From my observations, Minh frequently sent the shuttle to the deep corners and then suddenly dropped it short, forcing Thai Son to constantly change direction. He also used cross-court shots methodically. Instead of engaging in long rallies, Minh actively stretched the formation, making Thai Son run more. For a player who had just finished a doubles match, stamina was not his strongest asset. After the first game, Thai Son began showing signs of fatigue, with errors increasing. Nguyen Tien Minh shared after the match: "My opponent is very fast and strong, but he doesn't seem strong in singles. I tried to control the pace, draw him into uncomfortable situations. At my age, I win not with power but with my head." That statement shows Minh's deep understanding of tactics. At 43, few badminton players can maintain peak form, but Minh chooses to adapt to his body. He plays with less physical effort but compensates with his ability to read the game, anticipate the shuttle's direction, and place opponents in difficult positions. In my years of following Asian badminton, I have rarely seen a player with the ability to "read" opponents as well as Minh. He doesn't need powerful smashes or fast movement like in his younger days. He just needs to place the shuttle exactly where the opponent struggles to return, letting the opponent make mistakes. That is the playing style of an architect on court. However, if we only talk about Nguyen Tien Minh, the story would be incomplete. The Vietnam Open 2026 is also a tournament where young Vietnamese players face big challenges. Le Duc Phat, the current number one talent of Vietnamese badminton, carried high expectations, but he has been playing with knee and heel injuries. According to coaching staff, Phat had to receive pain relief injections to take the court. Fans could see him trying hard in every rally, but his movement was clearly not as fluid as usual. His wife's presence in the stands was a mental anchor, but physical limits cannot be overcome by willpower alone. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Dang – another young player – was eliminated right in the qualifying round. These results show that Vietnamese badminton is in a transition period, with veterans still competing and the younger generation not yet strong enough to rise. The contrast between a 43-year-old veteran winning and young players struggling with injuries is a big message. We often easily celebrate Nguyen Tien Minh's victories, but for sustainable development, Vietnamese sports need better investment in health care and sports medicine for young athletes. An injured Le Duc Phat cannot reach his full potential. Additionally, Minh's presence also raises an old debate: should an older athlete occupy a spot at international events that could go to young talents? Many will say Minh should retire to make way for the next generation. But I think that view is too simplistic. First, participation spots are not a matter of "giving way" since tournaments are based on rankings. Second, Minh's matches are a living lesson for younger players. Just as we often hear people say "women don't understand tactics" – an unfounded prejudice – the belief that a 43-year-old cannot still play well is also a stereotype. Tactics have no gender and no age; prejudice does. Nguyen Tien Minh does not need to be seen as an "old warrior" to comfort fans. He deserves respect for what he still does on court, professionally and excellently. He does not need to be rescued; he needs to be recognized. Recognition not because of age or a rare record, but because of the way he redefines his own limits. Watching Minh play, I remember children in small alleys of Ho Chi Minh City in the 1990s, dreaming of becoming a good tennis player. Before being a player, they were a child daring to dream in a small alley. Nguyen Tien Minh is the embodiment of a dream that persists over the years. However, if we focus too much on the veteran's story, we may overlook systemic issues. The recurring injuries of Le Duc Phat, the lack of a strong enough next generation, or the fact that Nguyen Thuy Linh – Vietnam's number one female player – has to face a 19-year-old Taiwanese talent right in the first round, all raise questions about the team's depth. The Vietnam Open 2026 is not just a place for players to earn points; it is a mirror reflecting the current state of Vietnamese badminton. Are we taking good care of what comes after Nguyen Tien Minh officially says goodbye? That is a question every Vietnamese badminton fan needs to answer for themselves. In the coming days, Nguyen Tien Minh will enter the main draw against Taiwan's Zhe Ying Wu – a player not particularly outstanding but still young and full of energy. Whatever the outcome, the presence of a 43-year-old legend at an Asian tournament shows a reality: with the right tactics and an undying heart, the boundaries of age can be shifted. Nguyen Tien Minh is still writing his story, and what matters is that we – those who work in and love sports – must learn from it to build a better future for the next generations. Let Nguyen Tien Minh inspire, but also remember that players like Le Duc Phat need support so they don't burn out too soon.