Nguyễn Tiến Minh during his first match at the Maldives International Challenge badminton tournament yesterday. Photo soha.vn

HÀ NỘI — No 3 seed Nguyễn Tiến Minh from Việt Nam easily defeated Buwaneka Goonethilleka of Sri Lanka in the first round of the Maldives International Chalenge badminton tournament on Wednesday.

Minh took 22 minutes to overcome Goonethilleka 21-8, 21-8 in the men’s singles.

The top Vietnamese player will next face Aryamann Tandon of India.

Phạm Cao Cường, who is seeded No 16 here, defeated Maxime Moreels of Belgium in the other men’s singles match on Wednesday.

Cường struggled in the first set before winning 23-21, but he quickly crushed Moreels 21-9 in the second set to finish the match in 44 minutes.

Cường will next play the winner of the match between Malaysia's Sim Wee Peng and India's Kevin Arokia Walter.

Việt Nam also have representatives in the women’s singles. While Vũ Thị Trang has a bye in the first round, her teammate Vũ Thị Anh Thư will play India's Aakarshi Kashyap.

The Maldives Challenge runs from September 25 to 29 with a prize purse of US$25,000. — VNS