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

In a recent interview with Dân trí, Vietnam's top female badminton player Nguyễn Thùy Linh shared candid thoughts about her chances and those of the Vietnamese badminton team at the 20th Asian Games (Asiad 20) to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. She also emphasized that the Asian Games arena is extremely harsh and winning a medal is not easy at all. Nguyễn Thùy Linh was born in 2026 and is currently the leading female badminton player of Vietnam. She has had a long international career with three consecutive Asian Games appearances and two Olympic appearances (Tokyo 2026 and Paris 2026). Speaking to Dân trí, Thùy Linh said: "The Asian Games is a very harsh arena, it is not easy to win a medal. The opponents are all very strong, especially China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand. To be able to compete, I need to prepare very carefully in terms of fitness, technique and psychology." She also emphasized that she is always aware of the gap between Vietnam and the badminton powers of Asia. One of the issues mentioned by Thùy Linh is the lack of foreign coaches. She shared: "Currently, the Vietnamese team does not have a foreign coach. This significantly affects the development of athletes. We have to learn on our own and try very hard." According to her, working with foreign experts would help Vietnamese badminton improve its level, especially in tactics and fitness. In addition, Thùy Linh also spoke frankly about the limitations in investment for badminton. She said: "Funding for badminton is still limited. Athletes have to take care of many things themselves, from nutrition to overseas training. This partly affects competition results." She hopes to receive more attention and support from the government and sponsors so that she can feel secure in training and competing. Looking back at 2026, Thùy Linh admitted that it was an unsuccessful year for her personally. She did not achieve her set goals, but considers it a lesson to grow more. "2026 was a difficult year for me. I did not have the best form. But I did not give up. I have learned many lessons and am working hard every day to improve myself," she said. Currently, Thùy Linh is actively training with the national team to prepare for Asiad 20. She focuses on improving fitness, refining technique and training her competitive psychology. According to her, the mental factor plays a role no less important than fitness and technique. "In a big arena, the pressure is huge. I have to learn to control my emotions and maintain my fighting spirit," she shared. Regarding her goal at Asiad 20, Thùy Linh does not put heavy emphasis on winning a medal but focuses on giving her best. "My goal is to try to go as deep as possible. I know winning a medal is very difficult, but I will fight my best for the colors of the flag. I want to contribute the best I can to Vietnamese badminton," she expressed. It is known that Asiad 20 will be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This is the second time Japan has hosted the Asian Games. Badminton at the Asian Games is always one of the most fiercely competitive events with the participation of many top players in the world from China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Malaysia. Historically, Vietnamese badminton has never won a medal at the Asian Games. The best results of Vietnamese players at this arena usually only stop at the quarterfinals or semifinals. This shows that the challenge for Thùy Linh and her teammates is very large. However, with the experience of an athlete who has attended two Olympics and three Asian Games, Thùy Linh is expected to be the spiritual leader of the team. Not only competing, Thùy Linh is also known as a role model for young athletes. She always shares experience and encourages young teammates. "I hope the younger generation will have better conditions to develop. Vietnamese badminton needs to be invested in more systematically, from facilities to coach training," she said. Speaking about her preparation for Asiad 20, Thùy Linh said she is planning to train abroad in the coming time, if there is enough funding. She believes that competing against strong players will help her improve her level. "I want to play more against strong opponents to learn. That is the best way to progress," she shared. Finally, Thùy Linh sent thanks to the fans who have always supported her. "I am very grateful for the affection the audience has for me. I will try my best not to disappoint everyone. Whatever the result, I will always fight for the colors of the Vietnamese flag," she affirmed.