Thuy Linh: “The Asian Games arena is very harsh, it is not easy to win a medal”

In an interview with Dan Tri newspaper, Vietnam's number one female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh shared candid views on the challenges at the Asian Games (Asiad). According to Thuy Linh, Asiad is one of the harshest arenas, gathering the continent's top players, and winning a medal is not easy. This statement reflects not only the competitive reality of badminton but also the limitations in training conditions, funding, and coaching staff of Vietnamese badminton. The interview was conducted as the Vietnam national badminton team prepares for the upcoming Asiad. According to Dan Tri, this edition of the Asian Games is expected to be held in Japan, called Asiad 20. Thuy Linh is identified as the key player of Vietnamese badminton, having participated in three consecutive Asian Games and two Olympic Games. However, her results at major tournaments remain modest compared to expectations, and 2026 was seen as an unsuccessful year for her and the team. The interview focuses on systemic difficulties. Thuy Linh said Asiad is unlike regional tournaments because it features strong sports delegations such as China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and many others. Badminton is highly competitive, where a small mistake can lead to defeat. Therefore, to win a medal, a player needs not only technique, fitness, and tactics but also support from a coaching team, analysts, and professional training conditions. According to Thuy Linh, funding is a major barrier. She said investment in Vietnamese badminton remains limited, making it difficult for players to regularly compete in international tournaments, train long-term abroad, or work with foreign experts. Compared with regional badminton powers like Thailand and Indonesia, Vietnam has not yet built a methodical and long-term investment strategy. This creates a significant gap in performance, especially in women's singles and mixed doubles. Another notable point is the absence of foreign coaches. For many years, Vietnamese badminton has relied mainly on domestic coaches, while countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and China have brought in international experts to improve their level. Thuy Linh emphasized that without foreign coaches and experts in fitness, psychology, and nutrition, competing for an Asiad medal is extremely difficult. She also said she has tried hard, but individual effort is not enough without systemic support. The interview also mentions Thuy Linh's journey at previous Asiad. She has participated in three consecutive Asian Games, a remarkable achievement for a Vietnamese player. However, in all three, she has not won a medal. At Asiad, Vietnamese players often face strong opponents from the early rounds, narrowing their chances of advancing deep. Thuy Linh admitted that overcoming Asia's top players is a huge challenge, especially when fitness and high-level match experience are still lacking. Regarding her two Olympic appearances, Thuy Linh is one of the few Vietnamese players to have competed at the Olympics. Her first was Tokyo 2026 (held in 2026 due to COVID-19) and the second was Paris 2026. Although she has not created a major surprise, these appearances helped her gain valuable experience. However, according to Thuy Linh, the gap between participating and competing for a medal remains very wide. She believes that if Vietnam only stops at participation, badminton will struggle to make a breakthrough. 2026 was considered an unsuccessful year for Thuy Linh. She did not achieve expected results at international tournaments, and her performance at Asiad 19 in Hangzhou, China, was also not as hoped. This failure partly reflects limitations in fitness, psychology, and tactics. Thuy Linh said she has learned many lessons, but improvement requires changes in organization, investment, and team management. The upcoming Asiad, according to Dan Tri, is expected to take place in Japan and is called Asiad 20. This is an important edition because Japan is one of Asia's badminton powers, with many world-class players. Competing in Japan brings both opportunities and challenges. The opportunity is that Vietnamese players can learn from a professional environment, but the challenge is pressure from home crowds and fierce competition from strong delegations. From a professional analysis perspective, the source shows the interview does not provide specific technical data, no head-to-head statistics, rankings, or scores. Therefore, assessments of Thuy Linh's and Vietnam's tactics and technique remain at the level of insufficient information. However, structural observations about the funding gap, lack of foreign coaches, and difficulty in winning Asiad medals still have a basis. These are systemic issues affecting not only Thuy Linh but the entire Vietnamese badminton scene. Compared with regional countries, Thailand and Indonesia are the two strongest badminton nations in Southeast Asia. Thailand has won Olympic medals and has many players in the world's top ranks. Indonesia has a long badminton tradition, producing many legends. Both countries have methodical youth training systems, professional national championships, and strong investment from governments and businesses. Vietnam, despite its potential and some outstanding players, has not yet built a comparable system. This makes competing for Asiad medals even harder. Another factor is competitive psychology. At major tournaments, pressure from fans, media, and self-expectation can affect performance. Thuy Linh said she has tried to control her psychology but has not always succeeded. The lack of sports psychologists is a major disadvantage. Meanwhile, many strong teams have psychologists, nutritionists, and rehabilitation experts. These are factors Vietnamese badminton still lacks. Regarding nutrition and recovery, Thuy Linh also mentioned that Vietnamese players often have to take care of many things themselves. High-intensity training without proper nutrition and scientific recovery methods can lead to injury and declining fitness. She believes this issue needs improvement to compete at the continental level. Compared with Japanese or Korean players, conditions for Thuy Linh and her teammates remain limited. Tactically, although the source does not provide details, modern badminton requires diverse playing styles, quick adaptability, and endurance. Top Asian players often have fast-paced styles, good shuttle control, and solid defense. Thuy Linh has advantages in experience and fighting spirit, but to overcome top opponents, she needs to upgrade her fitness and tactics. The lack of foreign coaches may make it difficult for her to access advanced training methods. On the chance of winning an Asiad medal, Thuy Linh assesses it as very difficult. She believes that without breakthrough investment, the medal goal is unrealistic. However, she remains determined and will try her best. She also hopes management levels will have better support policies for badminton in particular and Vietnamese sports in general. According to her, sports achievements cannot come from individual effort alone but require the whole system's involvement. Dan Tri's interview received attention from Vietnamese badminton fans. Many agree with Thuy Linh, saying the difficulties she mentioned are real. Others expressed hope that sports management agencies will soon find solutions. However, some opinions say it is necessary to look at the positive side: Thuy Linh is still one of Vietnam's best players, and her presence at major tournaments inspires the younger generation. Looking to the future, if Vietnamese badminton wants to win Asiad medals, it needs a long-term strategy. First is reasonable financial investment, ensuring players can train and compete internationally regularly. Second is inviting foreign experts, not only coaches but also fitness, psychology, and nutrition specialists. Third is building a youth tournament system and a professional national championship. Fourth is improving facilities and training conditions. These are urgent tasks because Asiad 20 is approaching. However, it should be noted that information about the exact timing of the upcoming Asiad is still pending verification. According to the analysis, the interview may have been conducted before Asiad 20 in Japan, but confidence in the timeline is only medium. If there is a discrepancy, the assessment of Thuy Linh's career phase may change, but the structural conclusions about financial difficulties, lack of foreign coaches, and medal challenges remain valid. In summary, Nguyen Thuy Linh's statement shows that Asiad is truly a harsh arena. To win a medal, Vietnamese badminton needs more than individual effort. It requires methodical investment, a long-term strategy, and comprehensive support. Thuy Linh's story is not just that of one player but of an entire sports sector trying to reach the continental level. Fans hope that with proper attention, Vietnamese badminton will soon make new strides, and Thuy Linh's efforts will be duly rewarded.