Vietnamese badminton players will compete against tough renowned rivals at the 2016 Olympic Games, which will kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 5.

Nguyen Tien Minh

In the men’s single event, Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh was placed in Group E that also features superstar Lin Dan of China, Vladimir Malkov of Russia and David Obernorsterer of Austria.

The competition will be in a round robin format with the group’s best player going to the next round.

In six previous contests against Lin Dan, who has been widely recognised as the most successful player in the world’s badminton history, the HCM City-based player has never won a match.

In the women’s single event, Vu Thi Trang was in Group J alongside world No. 6 Nozomi Okahura of Japan and world No. 25 Lindaweni Fanetri of Indonesia.

In the event, the competition will also go in a round robin format.

The badminton competition will run from August 11-20.

VNA