Vietnamese badminton player Thùy Linh exited the 2026 Asian Games in the Round of 16 after a fiercely contested three-set match against world No. 4 Chen Yu Fei of China. Despite entering the fixture as the lower-ranked competitor at No. 32 in the world, Thùy Linh pushed the tournament favorite to her absolute limits before falling 2-1 on September 26.
Opening Set Dominance by Chen Yu Fei
The encounter highlighted a stark contrast in momentum across three demanding sets at the regional games. Chen Yu Fei established early authority in the opening frame, utilizing sharp placement and precise attacking clears to disrupt the Vietnamese player’s rhythm and secure a comfortable 21-12 victory.
Thùy Linh Fights Back in a Marathon Second Set
Thùy Linh responded with high-intensity play in the second set, generating extended rallies and capitalizing on unforced errors from her Chinese opponent. The frame developed into a marathon battle featuring 46 total points. Chen Yu Fei carved out two match points during the sequence, but Thùy Linh maintained composure under pressure to erase both deficits before closing out a thrilling 24-22 win to level the match.
Decisive Third-Set Surge Seals the Match
In the decisive third set, Chen Yu Fei engineered a rapid response, capitalizing on an early surge to construct a commanding 10-1 lead. Although Thùy Linh attempted a late rally, the deficit proved insurmountable, and the Chinese star sealed the final set 21-12 to advance.
Campaign Context and Head-to-Head History
Prior to her Round of 16 exit, Thùy Linh opened her Asian Games campaign with a dominant 2-0 victory over Indonesia’s Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan in the second round, posting scores of 21-15 and 21-10. Historical head-to-head records favored Chen Yu Fei prior to the match, with the Chinese competitor having claimed victories in all three of their previous international encounters.
Vietnam’s Remaining Doubles Hope
Following the conclusion of competition on September 26, the men’s doubles pairing of Nguyen Dinh Hoang and Tran Dinh Manh remains the sole Vietnamese badminton representation active at the 2026 Asian Games. The duo advanced to the quarterfinals and will return to the court on September 27.
