Tien Minh - Vu Thi Trang couple were eliminated in a rare scenario

In just 2 days, the famous badminton couple Nguyen Tien Minh - Vu Thi Trang said goodbye to Vietnam Open in surprisingly similar ways.

Vu Thi Trang lost to Ashmita Chaliha on September 10 and was eliminated - Photo: DUC KHUÊ

A rare coincidence

On September 9, Tien Minh competed in the qualifying round against Indian player Orijit Chaliha. Ojirit Chaliha was born in 2000, 17 years younger, so he had the advantage in terms of physical strength. Therefore, despite showing his class and experience, the Vietnamese badminton legend still fell after 3 sets.

This result prevented him from qualifying for the main round of this year's Vietnam Open.

While Tien Minh stopped, his wife Vu Thi Trang excellently passed the qualifying round after 2 wins.

On September 10, she entered the first round against Ashmita Chaliha (born in 1999). Despite her best efforts against her younger opponent, the Vietnamese player lost after 2 sets.

Tien Minh could not get a ticket to the main round of Vietnam Open after losing in the qualifying round - Photo: DUC KHUE

So far, both Tien Minh and Vu Thi Trang have been eliminated. But it is worth mentioning that they both stopped at Vietnam Open 2025 in a strangely coincidental scenario.

That was because the people who defeated them, Orijit Chaliha and Ashmita Chaliha, were relatives.

Orijit Chaliha (back) coaches his cousin Ashmita in the match against Vu Thi Trang - Photo: DUC AN

When they discovered that the two tennis players shared the same last name Chaliha, many people thought they were sisters. But in reality, they were just cousins. In the match between Vu Thi Trang and Ashmita, Orijit was the one who "played" the role of coach for his sister.

It is very unlikely that two people with blood relations like Nguyen Tien Minh - Vu Thi Trang will be in an international badminton tournament. However, despite the small probability, a strange coincidence happened at the Vietnam Open 2025.

Idol Tien Minh

Orijit Chaliha is proud to face his idol Tien Minh - Photo: DUC KHUÊ

"From childhood to adulthood, I have always followed and considered Tien Minh an idol. Although he has not reached the level of world legends, he still receives respect on par with Lin Dan or Lee Chong Wei.

So being able to compete with my idol is an unbeatable honor for me. It's just a pity that our age gap is too great, so I couldn't compete with Tien Minh in his prime," Orijit Chaliha, the younger player, shared.

And because he admires Tien Minh, he knows very well that Vu Thi Trang is this tennis player's wife.

Talking about this unbelievable coincidence, Orijit Chaliha said: "When I found out my sister Ashmita met Vu Thi Trang, I went crazy.

We couldn't believe we were playing against a married couple, and beating them two days in a row. That's probably never happened in any tournament in the world."

Two Indian athletes often travel abroad together - Photo: DUC AN

The tennis player born in 2000 also talked about being a coach for his cousin. Because they are relatives, they often meet to practice and go on tours. This has happened many times and they are used to it.

Ashmita herself had a hard time against Vu Thi Trang. But thanks to her cousin's "guidance", she changed her playing style to win.

However, the Indian girl will be alone in the coming days at the Vietnam Open. While she has won a ticket to the next round, Orijit has been eliminated and will board a plane to return home on September 11.

Without her "advisor" brother, it is unknown whether Ashmita's next journey will be smooth or not.

DUC KHUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vo-chong-tien-minh-vu-thi-trang-bi-loai-theo-kich-ban-hiem-co-20250911000836446.htm