LookAtVietnam – Viet Nam’s top player and world No 14 Nguyen Tien Minh is seeded to contest the final of the Thailand Badminton Grand Prix Gold which starts today in Bangkok.

Nguyen Tien Minh.

Minh has been in top form in recent international competitions, having beaten world No 1 Lee Chong Wei in Singapore and nearly defeating Denmark’s Peter Gade in Indonesia, respectively. He is expected to face his first serious challenge in a quarter-final match against another Thai and fifth seed Tanongsak Saensom-boonsuk.

Through that he should face seed No 4 Wei Ng, of Hong Kong, or No 8 Wee Chung Pei, of Malaysia.

Minh has had lapses of form against weaker rivals such as in the Philippines Grand Prix Gold last month. He was the second seed when ousted 12- 21, 21-17, 17-21 by Hong Kong’s Hu Yun, the No 8 seed, in 53 minutes.

Women’s competition

Hong Kong’s Zhou Mi leads the women’s seeds while countrywomen Wang Chen is the second. Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk is seeded No 6 and is the other local main hopes.

China’s Gao Ling will contest the women’s doubles with Wei Yili, but host entries are seeded to win the event and the mixed doubles.

Finn Anu Nieminen, the fifth seed in the women’s singles, is the only European entry in any of the events.

The Grand Prix is the third round of 13 in the World Federation’s Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix circuit.

The finals are scheduled for Sunday with total prize money of US$120,000.

World champ

The draw for the World Badminton Championship in New Dehli from August 10-16 will be held today with Minh the only Vietnamese representative.

Minh will face some stern opposition in Bangkok and in New Dehli, but if he finds the form that gave him a win over world No 1 Lee Chong Wei last month he could do the country proud.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News