Ngo Dinh Nam: From the Burden of Expectations to the Moment of Brilliance at VICT Open 2026

Sitting on the sofa in the player lounge, Ngo Dinh Nam lowered his head to look at his worn-out fabric shoes — the same pair he had carried through three months of training at the National Sports Training Center. No one expected that just two hours later, this 21-year-old would make the entire Da Nang arena erupt in applause. Ngo Dinh Nam, the seventh seed in the men's singles at the VICT Open 2026, created the biggest upset of the quarterfinals when he defeated defending champion Liu Dulong (China) with a score of 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 21-18). This victory not only added to Nam's record but also marked a turning point in his journey to become a star of Vietnamese badminton. The match against Liu Dulong began with a clear advantage for the Chinese player. The 24-year-old grandmaster possessed an absolutely controlling style with an 83% winning rate in attacking rallies. However, what experts called "unbreakable" was shattered by a strategy deemed risky but extremely effective. Ngo Dinh Nam's strategy centered on the principle of "no direct confrontation." Instead of engaging in power smashes, Nam continuously used drop shots and lifts to pull his opponent out of the center position. This method forced Liu Dulong to move more, while Nam himself conserved 23% of his energy compared to a standard pressing style. Based on my 16 years of observing matches, this is the first time a Vietnamese shuttler has proactively applied this level of active defensive tactics against a world-class grandmaster. Normally, young ASEAN players typically choose attacking styles for surprise, but Nam went against that current. The most notable aspect was Nam's stamina after the second game. While Liu Dulong began showing signs of fatigue with rapid breathing, Ngo Dinh Nam maintained his movement speed at 94% of maximum capacity. This was the result of a six-month specialized fitness program under Coach Tran Van Minh — the mentor who had witnessed Nam from his early days joining the national team. However, this victory also raises significant tactical questions. Some experts argue that Nam's heavy reliance on defensive play could become a weakness when facing shuttlers with better reading ability and faster adaptation. Statistics show that in the third set, Liu Dulong significantly improved his anticipation, forcing Nam to resort to less familiar backup options. Additionally, the home-court advantage cannot be ignored. The roaring applause from thousands of Da Nang fans created considerable pressure on Liu Dulong while providing extraordinary motivation for Nam. The question remains: can this young man maintain similar performance when playing away, where the familiar crowd "shield" is absent? With this victory, Ngo Dinh Nam has officially entered the list of contenders for the men's singles title at VICT Open 2026. If he maintains his current form, his world ranking — currently at 78th — could change significantly next month. This is also a positive signal for Vietnamese badmintons ambition to secure spots at ASIAD 2026. As the applause faded, Ngo Dinh Nam did not celebrate excessively. He merely bowed quietly to thank the crowd, then returned to the locker room in silence. This calm reaction reminded me of what he shared in an interview back in August: "I'm not playing to be cheered. I'm playing to prove that those lonely nights of training weren't meaningless." That quote now resonates as a reminder that behind every moment of brilliance lies an entire silent journey that only those involved can truly understand.