At the age of 29, Tien Minh begins to enter the difficult time to maintain his form. However, he is still an “alone man” of Vietnam’s badminton because his inferiors are still nameless in the international arena.

The comment by Mrs. Huynh Thi Ngoc Lien, Vice Chair of the HCM City Badminton Federation at the Olympic 2008: “Behind Tien Minh is a vast space” is once again proved for its accuracy at the Thomas & Uber Cup in Macau.

Except for Tien Minh’s two winning games, the remaining Vietnamese badminton players failed in both single and pair categories.

Withouth Tien Minh, Vietnam’s badminton will be a zero in the international arena.

Young talents like Nguyen Thi Trang, Nguyen Hoang Nam and Le Ngoc Nguyen Nhung, who are seen as Tien Minh’s successors, have been unable to prove their talent at international tournaments.

Tien Minh has successfully defended his position in the world top ten for over a year. But he is still the “alone man” of Vietnam’s badminton in the world arena.

Tien Minh’s success comes from his own efforts, since he was 18. Tien Minh did not have a coach and exercises. He got up early everyday to run and do physical exercises.

Minh’s passion and will was supported by the HCM City Badminton Federation and the federation’s Vice Chair Huynh Thi Ngoc Lien, with financial assistance and spiritual encouragement. 

The matter of Vietnam’s badminton at present is not money but the shortage of experts and professional training procedures. Tien Minh is now 29, the age of pinnacle in his career but he has not had any successor who can replace him at international events.

This year, Tien Minh’s missions will be defending his position in the world top ten and represent Vietnam at the Olympic 2012.

Tien Minh will realize these missions without his Indonesian coach Asep Suharno, who left HCM City early this year.

Source: VNN