Minh qualifies for London Olympics

Olympian again: Nguyen Tien Minh has secured a berth to the 2012 London Olympic this summer. It will be the second time he has taken part in the Games after Beijing in 2008. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Nhut

HA NOI — Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh has qualified for the 2012 Olympics Games in London, according to the latest from the World Badminton Federation.

The federation has announced that any country with a player in the world's top 38 can send him or her to London to compete in the single's category.

The HCM City-born Minh now ranks 11th in the international standings.

London will be Minh's second Olympics after Beijing in 2008, when he lost to Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Yu Hsing in the first round.

This summer's Olympics is expected to draw 172 players competing in men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed badminton events.

Minh is one of 15 Vietnamese athletes to earn a berth to London so far, accompanying gymnasts Phan Thi Ha Thanh, Pham Phuoc Hung and Do Thi Ngan Thuong; taekwondo artists Le Huynh Chau and Chu Hoang Dieu Linh; judoka Van Ngoc Tu; shooters Hoang Xuan Vinh and Le Thi Hoang Ngoc; track-and-field athlete Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc; fencer Nguyen Tien Nhat; rowers Pham Thi Thao and Pham Thi Hai, and weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan.

At the ongoing Grand Prix Gold Malaysia Open yesterday, Minh needed only 36 minutes to beat India's Anand Pawar 2-0 in the second round.

As the world No 11, he is the event's seed No 2 just behind world and event No 1 Lee Chong Wei.

Minh will meet world No 72 Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in the third round. — VNS