VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time, Viet Nam will have four representatives in the main round of the Asian Badminton Championship, which kicks off in Sichuan City, China, on Tuesday.

Photo:VNS

Viet Nam's chief rivals will be China's Lin Dan and Chen Long, ranked second and fourth in the world, and Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana, the world No 6.

World No 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and No 3 Taufik Hydayat will not be competing this year.

Minh's first major challenge will come from Hsuan Yi Hsueh of Chinese Taipei in the third round.

Minh was defeated 16-21, 21-15, 15-21 by Hsuan at the Beijing Olympics in August two years ago.

If Minh wins, he will face another familiar rival, Du Pengyu, the world No 12, in the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals of the South Korea Open last year, Minh beat Du 25-23, 15-21, 21-19.

While Minh has a relatively easy early draw, his teammates will have to work hard from the outset.

Nam has been drawn to play the tournament's No 3 seed Boonsak in the first round, while Tuan will face Mohammed Jabed Mostafa from Bangladesh. If victorious, Tuan will meet teammate Minh in the next round. Meanwhile, Anh has been drawn against Feng Chong Wei of Malaysia. If victorious, he will next face Bao Chunlai, the No 7 seed.

Viet Nam's female representatives are Le Thu Huyen and Youth Olympics bronze medallist Vu Thi Trang. Both will have to compete in the qualifying round.

Three Vietnamese pairs will also take part in the Sichuan event. Of those, Bui Bang Duc and Dao Manh Thang are expected to make it through to the main round without too much difficulty.

The championship ends on April 24.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News