According to the draw results on December 10, world No. 22 and fourth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh was matched against 19-year-old Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi of Indonesia, who is ranked outside the top 80 globally.
Having reached the finals of three Super 300 tournaments in 2025 and armed with extensive international experience, Thuy Linh was expected to cruise into the quarterfinals.
In the opening set, she delivered on expectations. Linh played with control, handled difficult rallies with finesse, and strung together a 9-point streak to win 21-16.
However, the momentum shifted in the second set. Amartya grew more confident, applying pressure with high-speed attacks. Despite trailing 17-20, Linh saved three set points but ultimately lost 20-22.
By the third set, Linh’s energy levels visibly dropped. Errors crept into her game, and she struggled to match the pace of her younger opponent. Amartya capitalized and secured the decider 21-14, sealing a 2-1 victory.
This defeat means Thuy Linh once again falls short of earning an individual medal at the SEA Games, despite entering the tournament as the fourth seed and a strong favorite to reach the final rounds.
Thien Binh
