43-year-old Nguyen Tien Minh wins at Vietnam Open 2026 qualifying round

HANOI — In an unremarkable hall, one of the biggest names in Vietnamese badminton history continues his journey. Nguyen Tien Minh, 43, currently ranked 254th in the world, secured a qualifying-round victory in men's singles at the Vietnam Open 2026 — a BWF Super 100 event — against a much younger opponent. Minh said his opponent — Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, primarily a doubles specialist — is not strong in singles. A young player with power and speed, he struggled more when transitioning to singles play while waiting for doubles events. "When I entered the court, I just competed with my professional form and comfort," he said after the win. The victory marks a small milestone in a Super 100 tournament — the Vietnam Open 2026 — featuring over 300 players from 27 countries and territories. But for a man who has witnessed the rise of many generations, each match is another chapter in a long, storied career. "I still love this sport," Minh said. He doesn't talk about age. But anyone who has followed his career understands that age is not just a number — it's a whisper reminding that everything can collapse on a small mistake at any moment. For Vietnamese fans, Minh's presence at his home tournament evokes nostalgia. Fourteen years ago, he triumphed at this very tournament when he was younger and fitter. Now at 43, he keeps competing as a symbol of perseverance in a physically demanding sport. But Minh's presence also reveals a harsher reality about Vietnamese badminton: the generational transition remains unclear. While Minh competed in qualifying, other national team players are battling fitness issues. Le Duc Phat, a young Vietnamese hopeful, needed pain-relief injections to continue due to knee and heel injuries. Nguyen Hai Dang lost in qualifying. Minh acknowledged that today's young players tend to be physically stronger, but he also said experience is an advantage in tight matches. At 56, I have witnessed many talents come and go. I no longer believe in promises, only in what happens on court. Nguyen Tien Minh is still proving something that statistics cannot fully capture. Still, a qualifying win at a Super 100 event is not evidence that Minh can compete at the highest level. It was a win over a doubles specialist. Minh's real test will come against players of similar or higher caliber — particularly when he potentially faces Taiwan's Zhe Ying Wu in the main draw. For Minh's loyal fans, his continued participation is a gift. For those who view Vietnamese badminton as a developing system, a 43-year-old still being a leading choice might serve as a reminder that the road ahead is long and challenging. What is certain: Minh still wants to compete. And when someone still wants to compete, sport will always welcome them, regardless of the years lived. Every match Nguyen Tien Minh plays at this age is like a living page of history — both admirable and prompting fans to ask: Where is the next generation while the legend keeps fighting?