LookAtVietnam – Nguyen Tien Minh was the sole Vietnamese player to advance on to the second round of the Happy Suwon Badminton Asia Championship in South Korea yesterday.

Nguyen Tien Minh.

In the next round, Minh will play Anand Pawar of India, who beat Cambodia’s Mao Chamthan 21-5, 21-3 in the last round.

Minh’s two teammates, Nguyen Hoang Nam and Le Ha Anh, both lost yesterday.

Nam lost 14-21, 8-21 to host Shon Wan-ho, while Anh lost 15-21, 13-21 to the Philippines’ Asuncion Kennevic.

The national top mixed pair Duong Bao Duc and Thai Thi Hong Gam, who were expected to win at least one match here, were outclassed by Chen Zhibem and Zhang Jinkang of China, losing 21-16, 21-19.

Earlier, Huynh Nguyen Khang and Vu Thi Trang were trounced 4-21, 8-21 by South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung. Pham Cao Hieu and Nguyen Thi Sen lost 21-14, 21-14, 12-21 to Vita Marissa and Flandy Limpele of Indonesia.

Nam later paired with Khanh in the men’s doubles. They were defeated 21-13, 21-15 by Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chun Wei and Lin Yen Jui.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam’s Duc and Hieu lost 21-8, 21-13 to Songphon Anugritayawon and Sudket Prapakamol from Thailand.

The sole women’s doubles pair, Sen and Trang, who dominated the national top players tournament, were beaten 21-7, 21-16 by Zhang and Zhang.

The tournament winners will receive US$150,000 in prize money. The finals will take place on Sunday

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News