Badminton

Vietnamese top female player Nguyễn Thùy Linh will compete at the All England Badminton Championship on March 12-17 in Birmingham. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam marks its return to the YONEX All England Championship, the world's oldest badminton tournament, with top female player Nguyễn Thùy Linh taking part next month.

The very first All England Open took place back in 1899.

Linh has been listed one of 32 competitors in the women's singles event which will take place from March 12-17.

The unseeded player will face No 2 seed Chen Yu Fei, in the first round match at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

Linh, 25, is world No 23 and the biggest event in her career was the Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile Chen is world No 2 and the Olympic reigning champion. The 25-year-old was the runner-up of this tournament 12 months ago. She just finished second at the YONEX SUNRISE India Open 2024 last month where Linh was ousted from the first round.

Linh will have almost one month to prepare for the All England which lures strongest athletes such as reigning champion and top seed An Se-young of South Korea and world No 3 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taiwan. Former world No 1 Tai defeated Linh in the group round match at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Linh will also take part in several tournaments in Europe during the BWF World Tour Super - to improve her fitness and technique ahead of the most prestigious All England.

National head coach Chu Việt Bắc said his side practised as normal on February 14 after the Tết holiday. Linh did not have any day off during the vacation but kept training at home. She maintained her best condition and spirit to take part in all upcoming important tournaments.

As in the latest update, Linh places No 16 in the Race to Paris Olympics and nearly ensures her spot in Paris this summer.

Her international events will be opportunities for her to collect more points and upgrade her world ranking, which will make Linh a seeded player and have advantage in draw. VNS