Nguyen Tien Minh at 43 Still Shines at Vietnam Open 2026: A Victory of Patience and Grit

As the shuttlecock fell on the court of Bac Giang Gymnasium on the afternoon of September 8, 2026, a small corner of the stands was still following the thin figure of Nguyen Tien Minh. He had just finished his qualifying match with a victory over Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a player nearly twenty years his junior, known more for his doubles play. In the stands, a group of middle-aged fans clapped endlessly; they had followed Minh since he was Vietnam's number one player, from SEA Games to World Tour stops. This match had no spectacular rallies, no thunderous jump smashes. But to those who understand badminton, it was a display of patience, of a mind still reading the game at a different level. Nguyen Tien Minh, at 43, is still playing elite badminton, and he just showed why. The context of this tournament is the Vietnam Open 2026, a Super 100 event under the Badminton World Federation (BWF). This is not a particularly big tournament, without world-class stars like Viktor Axelsen or An Se Young. But for Vietnamese badminton, it holds special significance. It is a chance for young players to accumulate ranking points and gain international exposure, and a place where veterans like Nguyen Tien Minh can continue their passion. This year's tournament features more than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories. In that context, Nguyen Tien Minh, currently ranked 254th in the world, had to start from the qualifying rounds. He is no longer in his prime, when he reached the world top 10, but his presence at a domestic tournament serves as a huge mental anchor for the younger generation. Nguyen Tien Minh's victory over Nguyen Hoang Thai Son did not come from power or speed, but from experience and tactical intelligence. Nguyen Hoang Thai Son, a young player specializing in doubles, admitted after the match that he is not strong in singles. This was the weakness Minh exploited ruthlessly. Instead of engaging in high-speed rallies, Minh used cross-court shots, delicate net drops, forcing his opponent to move constantly and make errors. Minh's style is no longer the explosive badminton of his twenties, but the badminton of a strategist who read his opponent from the very first minutes. Based on my experience following matches, veterans like Minh often possess excellent observation and anticipation, compensating for physical decline. This match was a clear example. This victory does not take him easily into the main draw, as in the next round he will face a much stronger opponent: Zhe Ying Wu from Chinese Taipei. Looking more broadly, the state of Vietnamese men's singles at this tournament reveals structural issues. The absence of young player Le Duc Phat due to knee and heel injuries is a big loss. According to tournament organizers, Le Duc Phat had to take pain-relief injections before the qualifying round, but ultimately could not advance. The image of him sitting on the bench, with his wife beside him cheering him up, was one of the most haunting moments of the tournament. Nguyen Hai Dang, another Vietnamese player, was eliminated in the qualifying round. This shows a reality: Vietnamese men's singles are going through a difficult generational transition. The fact that a 43-year-old Nguyen Tien Minh still has to carry the main responsibility in men's singles is unusual, but it reflects the fact that the next generation is not yet ready to replace him. The gap in physicality and speed between young Vietnamese players and international competitors remains significant. I once wrote in an analysis: "Kazan taught me that there are mistakes that need no justification — they only need to be lived with." For young players like Le Duc Phat or Nguyen Hai Dang, failure and injury at this age are not the end. What matters is what they learn from those experiences, and whether they have enough patience to overcome the hardest phase of their careers. As for Nguyen Tien Minh, his continued play at 43, while many contemporaries have long retired, reminds me of a phrase I once coined: "They called me the golden boy. I am just someone learning to restrain so that gold does not burn." Minh is no longer the golden boy of Vietnamese badminton, but he is still learning to keep himself from being forgotten, through perseverance and love for the sport. A contrarian angle here is that Nguyen Tien Minh playing at a Super 100 tournament, even if only in qualifying, is not a sign of decline, but rather a smart strategy. At 43, competing in smaller events helps him maintain his feel for the shuttle, keep his competitive rhythm, and accumulate ranking points that could allow him to enter bigger tournaments if he wishes. Moreover, his presence at a domestic tournament has a ripple effect, inspiring young players. If one only looks at the scoreline, one might undervalue this victory. But considering the context and what Minh represents, this is a symbolic victory worthy of recognition. Nguyen Tien Minh's next match will be a real test against Zhe Ying Wu, a young player from Chinese Taipei with better physique and speed. However, in a Super 100 tournament, where top players usually do not participate, nothing is certain. Nguyen Tien Minh may not be in his peak form, but he has something that not every young player possesses: composure and the ability to turn the tide with experience. Nguyen Tien Minh's story is not just about sports. It is a story of pursuing one's passion to the end, surpassing the limits of age and skepticism. As I have said: "The best storyteller is not the one who knows everything, but the one who makes us believe the story is not over yet." Nguyen Tien Minh has been writing a story of perseverance, and judging by what he has shown in this tournament, his story may still have a long way to go. In a sporting world full of competition, where youth and power are often celebrated, Nguyen Tien Minh is a reminder that there are other values, more durable, that never go out of style. For three years of stagnation, I did not find applause. But I found my own ears, and Nguyen Tien Minh is probably also listening to his own body and heart before deciding to step onto the court again.