Thuy Linh Stops at Vietnam Open 2026 First Round Against Young Talent Xu Wen Jing

At Nguyen Du Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's No. 1 woman shuttler Nguyen Thuy Linh crashed out in the first round of the Vietnam Open on Tuesday, losing to 19-year-old Chinese qualifier Xu Wen Jing 17-21, 20-22. The defeat came just weeks after Linh was routed by the same opponent at the Korea Masters (10-21, 10-21). Although she produced a much more competitive performance on home soil, leading 17-14 in the second game, she could not convert her opportunities. Xu, a former world junior champion and recent Indonesia Masters Super 100 winner without dropping a game, displayed superior speed and attacking depth. The result highlights Vietnam's over-reliance on a few veteran stars: alongside Linh, 43-year-old Nguyen Tien Minh also exited in the first round. While the scoreline shows improvement for Thuy Linh, her inability to close out tight games is a recurring concern. Ranked 32nd versus Xu's 72nd, the gap in ranking does not reflect Xu's current form. Vietnam needs to develop younger players to build a sustainable future, while Xu must still prove herself against top-tier opponents in higher-category tournaments.