Nguyen Hai Dang Reaches Vietnam Open Quarterfinals

Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam's top player Nguyen Hai Dang has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's singles at the Vietnam Open 2026 badminton tournament after defeating India's Tharun Mannepalli, ranked 24 places higher, in straight sets 2-0. Despite the early exits of star players like Nguyen Thuy Linh, Nguyen Tien Minh, Vu Thi Trang, and Le Duc Phat, a large crowd of fans filled the Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of September 10 to cheer for Nguyen Hai Dang. Tharun Mannepalli, ranked 55th in the world, is 24 spots above Hai Dang. The Indian player also boasts impressive height and powerful smashes that score points. From the start, Tharun frequently directed the shuttlecock to Hai Dang's backhand, aiming to trouble the home player. However, with a persistent and tenacious playing style, coupled with strong net play, Hai Dang managed to limit his opponent's smashes to some extent, leading and winning the first set 21-14. In the second set, Tharun increased his pace and scored first. But Hai Dang demonstrated his mettle, successfully neutralizing many of the Indian player's difficult shots. The support from the fans also boosted Hai Dang's morale. The home player played with great commitment, making many impressive diving saves. Conversely, Tharun became impatient, making numerous unforced errors and gifting points to Hai Dang. The Ho Chi Minh City native built a significant lead and went on to win the second set 21-13, securing his place in the quarterfinals. In the mixed doubles, Tran Dinh Manh and Pham Thi Khanh faced India's third-seeded pair, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh. Despite being rated lower, the home pair played with good coordination and powerful finishing shots, continuously leading their opponents. In the first set, Manh/Khanh played impressively, overcoming crucial moments to win 21-19. In the second set, the third-seeded pair showcased their class, while Manh/Khanh struggled to keep up, eventually losing 19-21. Entering the third set, the Vietnamese pair played inspiredly and won 21-14, thus earning a spot in the quarterfinals where they will face China's sixth-seeded pair, Li Hong Yi and Huang Ke Xin. The Vietnam Open 2026 is part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 100 Tour and is being held at the Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City from September 8 to 13. The tournament features over 300 players from 27 countries and territories, including many strong athletes ranked high in the world rankings.