Nguyễn Tiến Minh entered the semi-finals. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — The crowd at the Bắc Giang Provincial Sports Hall seemed to explode when the top Vietnamese player Nguyễn Tiến Minh took victory over Thai Khoisit Phetpradab in the quarter-final match on May 20.

Before entering the match, the Thai player was ranked higher than the Vietnamese player. While 39-year-old Tiến Minh is ranked 69th globally, the Thai player is younger (27-years-old) and ranked 45th.

Minh entered the game with his bravery and experience in the first set, and he continuously scored first. It was challenging for the Thai to score a point. 

When the first set was 17-1 in favour of Tiến Minh, the Thai player suddenly pulled out of the match due to a hand injury. 

After the match, Tiến Minh said he had competed with Thai athletes in other tournaments three or four times. When he entered this match, he felt the Thai athlete played at a different speed than before.  

"His performance was not good today compared to usual, and I think he had a physical problem," he said.

Minh will face Singapore player Loh Kean Yew in the semi-final, who beat the Philippines' Jewel Angelo Albo 21-7, 21-8 to book his spot in the final four.

The other semi-final will be between Singapore and Thailand. — VNS