At the age of 42, the five-time champion is still competing at the professional level, serving as a powerful source of inspiration for the younger generation.

Although no longer seeded and starting from the qualifying round, Tien Minh’s comeback, alongside his wife and fellow player Vu Thi Trang, has already sparked excitement among fans.

“Tien Minh is a true icon of Vietnamese badminton. Competing professionally at over 40 years old against young players, he remains a role model for athletes to look up to,” said Nguyen Phuong Nam, president of the Vietnam Badminton Federation.

Beyond Tien Minh’s return, the Vietnam Open 2025 also promises intense battles in the women’s singles. Top seed Nguyen Thuy Linh, world No. 18, is aiming for a fourth consecutive title after reaching the Round of 16 at the recent BWF World Championships. She will face strong challenges from rivals such as Tanvi Sharma of India, Cai Yan Yan of China, and the Korean duo Han Ga Eun and Kim Min Sun.

In the men’s singles, the draw features notable names including Takuma Obayashi (Japan), Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo (Indonesia), and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran (India). Vietnam’s No. 1 player Nguyen Hai Dang is seeded seventh and is expected to make an impact on home soil.

The Yonex – Sunrise Vietnam Open 2025, a BWF Super 100 tournament with more than 20 years of history, will bring together over 300 athletes from 23 countries and territories at Nguyen Du Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City. The event has a total prize pool of US$110,000.

Vietnam’s top shuttler advances to Round of 16 at World Badminton Championships

VOV.VN - Nguyen Thuy Linh, Vietnam's number one badminton player, extended her impressive run at the 2025 World Badminton Championships in Paris with a second-round win over Scottish rival Kirsty Gilmour in the women’s singles, securing her place in the Round of 16.