Thuy Linh: 'The Asian Games arena is very harsh, it is not easy to win a medal'

Nguyen Thuy Linh, Vietnam's sole medal hope in badminton at the 20th Asian Games in Japan, shared candid insights about her current situation and ambitions ahead of Asia's largest sporting event. 'Actually, the Asian Games arena is very harsh; it's not easy to win a medal,' Linh admitted in an interview with Dan Tri. 'I've been through three consecutive Asian Games, plus two Olympic appearances, but every time I step onto the court, I realize the gap between us and the badminton powerhouses remains significant.' Year 2026 was considered a challenging year for the 2026-born player. Despite consistently ranking in the world's top 50, she has yet to regain the peak form that earned her a spot at the Tokyo 2026 Olympics. Minor injuries and psychological pressure at major tournaments have prevented Linh from achieving expected results. However, the most notable aspect of Linh's story lies not in her individual achievements, but in the overall picture of Vietnamese badminton. According to the player herself, Vietnam's national badminton team currently lacks foreign coaching support at an advanced level, while most medal contenders like Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and China all possess high-quality coaching systems with sophisticated tactics. Additionally, financial resources remain a significant barrier. Investment budgets for high-performance sports in Vietnam, particularly in badminton, have not met the demands of international training and competition. This partly explains why Linh often has to seek overseas training opportunities or rely on WSF Tour events to maintain her form. 'I know I'm Vietnam badminton's hope, but I also understand that one individual cannot change an entire system,' Linh shared. 'What I can do is give my best effort every day, so that every match at the upcoming Asian Games becomes a testament to my worth and to Vietnamese badminton as a whole.' Nguyen Thuy Linh is expected to compete in women's singles at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. With her current ranking, she is anticipated to face challenges from the first round against top Asian players. Looking back at Linh's journey, she stands as one of the few Vietnamese athletes capable of competing at a world-class level in an individual sport. From qualifying for the Rio 2026 Olympics through Tokyo 2026 and upcoming Paris 2026, she has become a symbol of Vietnamese sports resilience. Yet Linh herself reminds us that behind every potential medal lies an entire system that needs systematic development—from youth training and professional tactics to financial resources and personnel.