VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Minh, 28, who has had 18-year career as a professional badminton player, is the one who fills the name of Vietnam in the world map of badminton.



Minh’s today success is the outcome of 18 years of hardship. Minh said his fate with badminton came from badminton games with his neighboring friends, in which Minh was always the winner.

From badminton games on the street, Minh was encouraged by his friends and family t take part in a badminton contest held in his district. The 19-0 defeat in the game against a player who was trained at the district’s centre for gifted students urged Minh to practice more professionally. After a short time of being trained for free by a professional trainer, Minh met his rival again and this time he trounced that player 19-0. Minh’s badminton career began when he was 18.

The young man's determination soon demonstrated its fruitful aspects, when Minh was recruited into the national team in the same year. However, Minh's career did not become well known nation-wide until 2002 when he, at the age of 19, victoriously defeated the long time national champion, Phu Cuong Nguyen, and seized the gold medal for the men single category.

After 18 years with badminton, Minh has won many prizes at local, regional and international tournaments. He now ranks seventh in the world ranking list. There is no doubt that the athlete will even further improve his ranking in the future.

Minh said success cannot be measured by titles. “Athletes never want to be defeated. Sometimes I really felt tired and wanted to give up badminton. But the passion for this sports is still burning inside me so I cannot give it up,” he said.

Vietnam’s top badminton player is a fan of hi-tech electronic devices. He is also keen on discovering traditional cuisines of Vietnam and other countries. 

 

When did you start your career as a professional badminton player?

 

I played badminton when I was very small. When I was 11, I went to practice the sport at the Tinh Vo Club in District 5, HCM City. At first, my mother strongly objected to my decision because she worried that I would spend less time studying. Moreover, at that time, badminton was not as popular as it is nowadays.

 

She thought that I had no future. Fortunately, my father supported me. Also at the time, I won six gold medals within three months, so she gradually came to realize I could succeed.

 

At the age of 18, when they saw my passion which brought me many medals, my parents fully supported me.

 

At that time I had two choices, to take university exams or pursue the sport. Finally I chose badminton, and I have never regretted the decision.

 

Did you meet many difficulties when playing in professional competitions?

 

It is a long way from being an amateur to being a professional athlete. In the past, I played haphazardly and without real training.

 

I know that my disadvantage is my small size. I am also not strong at upper attacks and I have to perfect my basic technical skills.

 

Vietnamese badminton is not as professional as other countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Denmark, so here there is a small number of high level players and not much competition.

 

One important disadvantage to a professional player is that Viet Nam has not allotted enough money for international events, so we lack experience.

 

Moreover, we have no donations (sponsors), so Vietnamese players rarely participate in big tournaments.

 

How do you practice everyday?

 

My parents and friends play a key role by supporting my training. They not only give me the best conditions but also tell me what my strengths and weaknesses are, while my coaches show me how to bring into play my strong points as well as limit the disadvantages.

 

I have two training shifts per day under coach Nguyen Anh Hoang. I have my own practice schedule at home, and exercise to improve my physical strength.

 

It took me time to become adjusted to so much work.

 

Now, apart from my trainer’s lessons, I practice on my own, which helps me to perfect my technique.

 

My achievements today are also due to training abroad in China, Malaysia, Germany and playing in international competitions.

 

Major achievements:

 

National champion in the men's singles in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008

Bronze Medal for Men Team at 2005 Southeast Asian Games, hosted in the Philippines

Bronze Medal for Men Single at 2007 Southeast Asian Games, hosted in Thailand

Gold Medal for Men Single at the International Malaysia Satellite 2004

Gold Medal for Men Single at the International Vietnam Satellite 2006 and 2008

Gold Medal for Men Single at the International Vietnam Open 2008

Bronze Medal for Men Single at the International Taiwan Open 2008

Awarded with the Certificate of Satisfactory Progress by the Ho Chi Minh City’s People Committee in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Participated in 2008 Summer Olympic Games

Achieved the ranking of 11th worldwide on May 28, 2009

Gold Medal for Men Single at the Robot Vietnam International Challenge

Gold Medal for Men Single at the SCG Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold 2009

Gold Medal for Men Single at the Yonex Chinese Taipei Gold Grand Prix 2009

Achieved the ranking of 5th worldwide on June 18, 2010

Champion of the Vietnam Open 2011.

Ranking second at the US Open 2011.

 

S.Tung