Thuy Linh won the runner-up position at the Thailand International Badminton Tournament.

Before the final match, Thuy Linh (25 years old, ranked 49th in the world ) was rated higher than Asuka Takahashi (23 years old, ranked 94th in the world). Experts predicted that Thuy Linh had a great chance to win the first championship this year when her opponent was ranked much lower. However, the developments on the field went against the prediction when the Japanese player played effectively and confidently.

Thuy Linh had a successful tournament.

In set 1, the two players played a tug-of-war, constantly chasing the score. Thuy Linh had a breakthrough in the middle of the set when she continuously scored points to lead 13-7, 15-10. However, the number 1 Vietnamese player did not play well after that. Asuka Takahashi played effectively when she continuously had an impressive series of points. The Japanese player equalized the score at 15-15 before scoring 4 consecutive points to win 21-17.

In the second set, Thuy Linh was the one who played the role of chasing the score when Asuka Takahashi started confidently and continuously scored points. The Japanese player quickly created a gap of 9-3, 12-7, 15-8. Thuy Linh's subsequent efforts only helped her get the 17th point before she was defeated.

Losing to Asuka Takahashi 0-2 (17-21, 17-21) after 45 minutes of play, Thuy Linh won the runner-up position at the Thailand International Challenge 2023. This can be considered a success for Thuy Linh because this tournament gathered many quality players despite their low rankings. The proof is that in rounds 1 and 2, Thuy Linh, although being rated higher in terms of ranking, had to rely on the 3rd set to win against Widjaja (Indonesia) and Tung Cion-tong (Chinese Taipei). In the semi-finals, the Vietnamese player also needed the same to overcome Opatniputh (Thailand). The runner-up position at the tournament will help Thuy Linh accumulate more points and improve her ranking in the BWF's rankings next week.

Thuy Linh's presence in the women's singles final is also the best achievement of Vietnamese badminton at the tournament when other players could not reach the quarterfinals. In addition to Thuy Linh, Vietnam also has representatives such as: Vu Thi Trang, Vu Thi Anh Thu (women's singles), Nguyen Tien Minh, Le Duc Phat, Nguyen Hai Dang (men's singles), Dinh Thi Phuong Hong/Pham Thi Khanh (women's doubles), Nguyen Dinh Hoang/Tran Dinh Manh (men's doubles), Pham Van Hai/Than Van Anh and Tran Dinh Manh/Dinh Thi Phuong Hong (mixed doubles).

After this tournament, Thuy Linh and her teammates will participate in the Ciputra Hanoi - Vietnam Challenge 2023 taking place in Hanoi at the end of this month. This is an important tournament to help the players in the Vietnam badminton team prepare for the 32nd SEA Games taking place in Cambodia next May.

BAO ANH

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