Badminton 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's shuttlers are ready to serve up some surprises at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris from August 25 to 31 and net glory for the nation.

Vietnamese athletes have touched down in Paris, fully prepared to take on the TotalEnergies Badminton World Federation World Championships 2025.

Việt Nam secured five slots for the tournament, with six of the country’s strongest players, coached by Hariawan Hong, set to participate in both singles and doubles events.

National No. 1 Nguyễn Thùy Linh leads the charge as the world No. 22 — the highest ranking among Việt Nam’s women’s badminton players. Linh faces a tough opener against world and tournament No. 10 seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand on August 25.

Intanon, the 2013 world champion and multiple gold medallist at the Asian and Southeast Asian championships, presents a formidable challenge. However, Linh has a recent win over her, having beaten Intanon 2-0 at the German Open last year.

According to the national coaching board, Linh has maintained strong form in recent tournaments and intensive preparation ahead of the world event. Should she overcome the experienced 30-year-old Intanon, the two-time Olympian Linh, now 27, could advance deep into the competition.

In the women’s singles, former Olympian Vũ Thị Trang will face Ukraine’s Yevheniia Kantemyr. Trang, ranked No. 170, faces a difficult task against Kantemyr, who sits 41 places higher in the world rankings.

On the men’s side, Nguyễn Hải Đăng, world No. 57, makes his second appearance at the championships and will meet Indonesia’s rising star Alwi Farhan, ranked No. 23, in the opening round.

Teammate Lê Đức Phát, ranked No. 69 and a Paris Olympian, will play Belgium’s Julien Carraggi, world No. 59.

First-time world championship competitors Trần Đình Mạnh and Nguyễn Đình Hoàng, reigning champions at the Vietnam International Challenge, are seeded No. 126 and will face Brazilian pair Izak Batalha and Matheus Voigt, ranked No. 116.

Vietnam’s best result at this event remains Nguyễn Tiến Minh’s bronze medal in 2013, with Linh targeting a podium finish this year. VNS