The Olympic qualification period took place between May 4, 2015 and May 1, 2016, and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings list will allocate Olympic spots based on the world rankings published on May 5, 2016.

Unlike the previous Games, nations can only enter a maximum of two players each in the men's and women's singles for the Rio Games if both are ranked in the world's top 16; otherwise, only one quota place will be granted until the roster of thirty-eight players has been filled.

Accordingly, Tien Minh stood in 17th position among the 38 slots for the men’s singles event with his 32nd place in the world rankings announced on Thursday.

Despite having more than two players in the world’s top 38, countries, including China, Denmark, Indonesia, India and the Republic of Korea, must have their Olympic slots reduced to one or two according to the new BWF regulation.

This is the third consecutive year in a row Minh has been eligible for the world’s largest sporting event.

Minh’s joy was multiplied as his wife Vu Thi Trang – Vietnam’s top female shuttler – also made it through to the Rio Olympics this summer, standing in 25th position among the 38 Olympic berths for the women’s singles category.

The two additional places by Minh and Trang has increased the number of Vietnam’s Olympic slots to 18 so far, following two in gymnastics, three in fencing, one in swimming, two in wrestling, one in track and field, one in rowing, two in shooting and four in weightlifting.