VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s premier shuttler, Nguyen Tien Minh is expected to progress further into the 2014 BWF World Championships and repeat his miracle created at last year’s competition in China’s Guangzhou, when he grabbed the men’s singles bronze medal.

Tien Minh made history as the first Vietnamese badminton player to win a world-class medal at last year’s event in Guangzhou, China.

Tien Minh, ranked 30th in the BWF world rankings, will take on the US world no. 71 player, Howard Shu in their first-round clash scheduled later today, which is believed to be a comfortable game for the Vietnamese shuttler.

In case he successfully conquers Shu’s challenge, Minh will play his second-round match against world no. 63, Pablo Abian of Spain, who has automatically advanced as his first-round opponent, Indonesian Simon Santoso has dropped out due to dengue fever. Minh declared victory against Abian in their two previous meetings.

Vu Thi Trang, rated 105th in the women’s world standings, is set to represent Vietnam in the women’s singles category. She will face an opening crunch encounter against a much higher rated player, world no. 62 Lohaynny Vicente of Brazil.

The championships, which take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from August 25 to 31, see approximately 400 of the world’s top players, competing for the title of World Champion in five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Nhan Dan/VNN