Badminton

Nguyễn Thùy Linh is through to the second round of the ongoing Badminton Asia Championship in Dubai, the UAE. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Thùy Linh is the only Vietnamese athlete still in the Badminton Asia Championship in Dubai, the UAE.

It took the world No 35 just 20 minutes to beat Kamila Smagulova of Kazakhstan 21-8, 21-6 in the first-round match on April 26 night.

She was supposed to enter through the qualifiers. However, as several players in the main round withdrew, Linh was pushed up.

In the next round, she will face He Binh Jiao of China, the No 5 seed.

Last year, Linh was ousted in the first round.

All other Vietnamese players were out of the tournament.

Nguyễn Hải Đăng lost 21-13, 21-17 to No 5 seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the men's singles.

Phạm Văn Hải and Thân Vân Anh were defeated 21-11, 21-6 by Thai duo Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat in the mixed doubles.

Nguyễn Đình Hoàng and Trần Đình Mạnh were beaten 21-13, 21-9 by Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei.

The Asian championship features around 300 of the best players from 28 countries and territories fighting for continental crowns along with the BWF world ranking points. Of the total bonus of US$400,000, the singles winners will take $30,000, while the doubles champion will enjoy $31,600. — VNS