42 years old, Tien Minh defeated his junior Hai Dang at Vietnam International Challenge

Nguyen Tien Minh still defeated Hai Dang at the age of 42 - Photo: DUC KHUE

This year, Tien Minh is 42 years old. His form and fitness have long passed their peak. Therefore, this tennis player is currently ranked 330th in the world.

At Ciputra Hanoi - Vietnam International Challenge 2025, Tien Minh had to compete in the qualifying round on the morning of March 25. With his class, he easily defeated Pui Chi Chon (Macau, China).

But this victory has put him in a relatively difficult bracket. In the round of 64, Tien Minh will have to face his fellow countryman Nguyen Hai Dang. The player born in 2000 is currently ranked 62nd in the world, and is also from the same Ho Chi Minh City unit as Tien Minh. At Ciputra Hanoi - Vietnam International Challenge 2025, Hai Dang is also the fourth seed of the tournament.

With his youth, he was predicted to cause many difficulties for the Vietnamese badminton legend. The match took place with tension and drama. In the end, Tien Minh, despite being much older, still won after 2 games with the scores of 21-17, 21-19.

He showed that he still has impressive flexibility and technique. This helps him compensate for his physical disadvantage.

In the next round, Tien Minh will meet 19-year-old Indian player Samarveer. This athlete is currently ranked 170th in the world.

The Ciputra Hanoi - Vietnam International Challenge 2025 badminton tournament takes place from March 25 to 30 at Tay Ho District Gymnasium (Hanoi).

This year's tournament has about 80 men's singles athletes, 40 women's singles athletes, 40 men's doubles, 40 women's doubles, 40 mixed doubles participating, from badminton powerhouses such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia,...

At this tournament, Vietnam currently owns 6 men's singles championships, 2 women's singles championships and 1 mixed doubles championship.

Read more Back to Topics

DUC KHUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/42-tuoi-tien-minh-danh-bai-dan-em-hai-dang-tai-vietnam-international-challenge-20250325203647199.htm