When the quarterfinals of the badminton competition at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games began on the afternoon of December 12, Vu Thi Trang and Bui Bich Phuong, a women’s doubles pair considered a “stopgap” as the 18-year-old junior player was paired with a more experienced senior, were the last two remaining representatives of Vietnamese badminton.
In the game against the young Filipino duo Mary Destiny Untal and Andrea Princess Hernandez, Trang and Phuong got off to a slow start. After an even game for the first five points, the two Vietnamese gradually took control, led 11:6 and extended their lead to 15:7 and 20:9. Although their opponents were able to fend off two match points, the Vietnamese ultimately secured the first set 21:11.
Vu Thi Trang (left) and Bui Bich Phuong are assured of a medal at the 33 SEA Games as they advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles.
In the second set, Trang and Phuong dominated, highly motivated and giving their opponents hardly any chances, and quickly won 21:10. From the first round to this afternoon’s game, Bich Phuong’s strategy of conserving her youthful energy and Vu Thi Trang’s experience ensured a surprise in Vietnam.
There had previously been a big surprise at the badminton competition of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games: the improvised Vietnamese women’s doubles pair unexpectedly defeated the host country Thailand, which was ranked 48th in the world and seeded 3rd, in the first round.
With their quarterfinal victory, Trang and Phuong advanced to the semifinals and secured a medal for Vietnamese badminton.
In the other bracket, their opponents also pulled off an upset by eliminating the Malaysian women’s doubles, ranked 22nd in the world.
Indonesian players Meilysa Trias Puspitasari and Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma will be the opponents of Trang and Phuong tomorrow afternoon, December 13th.
Those: https://nld.com.vn/vu-thi-trang-bui-bich-phuong-chac-chan-co-huy-chuong-tai-sea-games-33-196251212173704182.htm
