Thuy Linh defeated Hina Akechi (Japan) 2-1 in the first round of the Victor China Open 2026 international badminton tournament at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Changzhou city, Jiangsu province, China, on the morning of 21/7. Screenshot

Recent poor results saw Thuy Linh drop to world number 27, prompting her to train in Thailand for a period before heading to Jiangsu for the China Open.

Her first-round opponent was Hina Akechi, a 21-year-old Japanese player who had quickly risen to world number 23. They had met before at the Korea Masters 2025, with Thuy Linh securing a 2-0 victory.

Despite only one day to acclimate to the Jiangsu court and climate, Thuy Linh began the match strongly. She confidently executed effective net shots, forcing Akechi into constant movement. Caught in Thuy Linh's controlled play, Akechi committed many unforced errors, leading to a quick 21-10 first set win for the Vietnamese player in just 13 minutes.

The second set saw a reversal, with Thuy Linh, who hails from Phu Tho, making continuous errors. Her inaccurate shots and numerous out-of-bounds hits allowed Akechi to build a substantial lead, ultimately losing the set 10-21.

Thuy Linh, who had recently parted ways with expert Hariawan Hong, was accompanied only by coach Ngo Trung Dung. His psychological support and tactical adjustments proved crucial, enabling the 28-year-old player to dominate the deciding set. Thuy Linh effectively utilized long rallies to wear down her opponent, establishing a commanding 19-9 lead.

Despite a brief lapse that allowed Akechi to score five consecutive points, Thuy Linh capitalized on her opponent's unforced errors to win the third set 21-14, sealing the match in 56 minutes.

Thuy Linh secured a 2-1 victory over Hina Akechi (Japan) after 56 minutes in the first round of the Victor China Open 2026 international badminton tournament at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Changzhou city, Jiangsu province, China, on the morning of 21/7. Screenshot

Thuy Linh is Vietnam's top female badminton player, boasting seven consecutive national individual championships. Her accolades include three consecutive Vietnam Open titles since 2022, and appearances at the Olympic Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. On the super 300 circuit, she has been a four-time runner-up, at the German Open (2024, 2025), Canada Open (2025), and Korea Masters (2025).

Speaking to VnExpress, Thuy Linh confirmed her plans to continue on the Asian tour after the China Open, before shifting her focus to preparations for ASIAD in September.

The China Open 2026 is one of the world's most prestigious badminton tournaments, part of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 series. Held from 21-26/7 in Jiangsu, China, the event attracts top players competing for a total prize fund of 2 million USD.

Thuy Linh will face the winner of the second-round match between Ratchanok (Thailand, world number 7) and Michelle Li (Canada, world number 13).

By Duc Dong