Badminton

Nguyễn Thùy Linh is top seed at the Yonex - Sunrise Vietnam Open 2024 which takes place from September 10-15 in HCM City. VNA/VNS Photos

HCM CITY Despite more challenges, Việt Nam's top badminton player Nguyễn Thùy Linh is favourite to win her third Yonex - Sunrise Vietnam Open 2024 title in a row.

The five-day tournament begins on Tuesday at the Nguyễn Du Gymnasium in HCM City.

This year, the Open has been lifted to be a BWF Tour Super 100 event and will feature more than 307 competitors from 22 countries.

They will compete in five categories of men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

A total of US$100,000 will be delivered to the high-ranking players with the singles champions taking US$7,500 while doubles winner will earn $7,900.

"As a BWF Tour Super 100 event, the Vietnam Open lures more attention from elite players as well as young athletes who expect to gain points for their world rankings," said Hoàng Thị Thu Hà, vice president of the HCM City Badminton Federation, member of the organising committee.

"It is the largest international tournament held in Việt Nam where local players can sharpen their skills and learn lessons for their career.

"From previous tournaments, many of them gone on to great things. Among them are Nguyễn Tiến Minh and now Linh, Lê Đức Phát and Nguyễn Hải Đăng."

As the hosts, Việt Nam have 19 male and 20 female athletes taking part in all categories. Among them five secured their slots in the main rounds. They are Vũ Thị Anh Thư, Vũ Thị Trang and Linh in the women's singles and Đăng and Phát in the men's singles.

Rio Olympian participant Trang will play Chen Su Yu of Chinese Taipei.

Linh will begin her title defending campaign against teammate Thư in the first round.

Linh, world No 22, is considered the top title favourite but she would meet with tough challenges on the way to keep her title.

This year, many high-ranking players such as Indian Anupama Upadhyaya, world No 44; American Lauren Lam, world No 47; and Chinese Taipei Lin Hsiang-ti, world No 54, will make it tough for Linh.

Lê Đức Phát is one of two Vietnamese players in the main round of the men's singles category.

Việt Nam's male players are expected to go far at this tournament.

Phát has just won the Lagos International Classics 2024 in Nigeria and jumped seven steps to No 61 in the world. He is seeded No 4.

Meanwhile Đăng finished third in Lagos and his world No 75 place makes him No 8 seed here.

Following a draw, both of them got a by to play from the second round.

On their way to the final, they will have to overcome Sathish Kumar of India who sits No 45 in the world, Jia Heng Jason from Singapore, world No 46, and Finnish Joakim Oldorff, world No 56. VNS