Vietnamese badminton is fiercely competitive at SEA Games 33, can Thuy Linh win gold?

With tennis player Nguyen Thuy Linh currently ranked 21st in the world, Vietnamese badminton hopes to win its first gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games taking place this December in Thailand.

VERY DIFFICULT

Badminton is an attractive sport , which was introduced to the first SEA Games (SEAP Games) in 1959 and maintained regularly in the following games. Countries in the Southeast Asian region such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand are also badminton powers in the world, possessing top players, having athletes who have won Olympic and world gold medals. Therefore, the competition for badminton medals at the SEA Games is considered extremely fierce and very difficult for Vietnamese badminton.

Tennis player Nguyen Thuy Linh is expected to bring home a gold medal.

Photo: Independence

In the history of the SEA Games, Vietnam badminton has the best achievement of 14 bronze medals, without any gold or silver medals, which proves the fierce competition in the SEA Games arena. Vietnam badminton once had talented player Nguyen Tien Minh who won a bronze medal at the world championship in 2013, but his best achievement at the SEA Games was only 5 bronze medals. He once shared that competing in badminton at the SEA Games was no different from the world championship because there were almost all excellent players present. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand had strong, even forces, so they not only had an advantage in the singles but also dominated the doubles and especially the team events.

WHAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NGUYEN T HUY LINH ?

At the 33rd SEA Games, Nguyen Thuy Linh is the biggest hope for Vietnamese badminton. Ranked 21st in the world, she is behind the group of Southeast Asian players Chochuwong (Thailand, 6th), Intanon (Thailand, 8th), Tunjung (Indonesia, 10th), Katethong (Thailand, 14th), Ongbamrungphan (Thailand, 15th), Yeo Jia Min (Singapore, 20th). These are considered competitors with Thuy Linh in the women's singles at the 33rd SEA Games.

Coaches said Thuy Linh was rated slightly lower than the above group of opponents. However, she also has a chance to surpass the bronze medal achievement of the 31st SEA Games in 2022 at home. Because she has defeated at least once the stars of the Southeast Asian badminton village such as Chochuwong, Intanon, Tunjung, Yeo Jia Min. The belief in Thuy Linh's ability to make a difference at the 33rd SEA Games is even greater when this 28-year-old player is at the peak of her career. In 2025, she excellently reached the women's singles final 4 times in the World Tour Super 300 system in the competition system of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). She also rose to 17th place for the first time in her career and had impressive victories against strong opponents.

MORE HOPE FOR MALE PLAYERS

Badminton at SEA Games 33 has 7 events including: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, men's team and women's team. According to the coaches' assessment, in addition to Thuy Linh's number 1 hope in the women's singles, Vietnamese badminton also looks forward to the ability to create surprises in the men's singles (Nguyen Hai Dang, Le Duc Phat) and men's doubles (Tran Dinh Manh/Nguyen Dinh Hoang).

In 2025, Hai Dang is a male tennis player who has performed impressively, advancing far in international tournaments. His perseverance and determination have helped this player, currently ranked 55th in the world, to make a mark at the 33rd SEA Games. The men's pair Dinh Manh/Dinh Hoang has also progressed rapidly, currently ranked 87th, and is a new hope for Vietnamese badminton in an event that is not yet a strong point.

Thanks to having a fairly even male team, Vietnamese badminton also has the opportunity to compete in the men's team event, ready to surprise the strong teams at SEA Games 33.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-long-viet-nam-canh-tranh-khoc-liet-o-sea-games-33-thuy-linh-lieu-co-the-gianh-vang-185251123231545568.htm