Vietnam has so far secured 11 slots for the Games, with badminton receiving just one special allocation from the International Olympic Committee in the women’s singles event, awarded to Thu Huyen.
Despite being only 15, Thu Huyen has shown remarkable progress. Her breakthrough came in 2024 when she won a silver medal in the girls’ U15 singles at the Asian Junior Championships in China, becoming the first Vietnamese player to reach a continental final in this category.
Thu Huyen is the first Vietnamese player to have reached the final of the Asian Junior Badminton Championships (Photo: Quyet Thang).
She continued her impressive run in December 2025 at the Bangladesh International Challenge and Series, defeating Malaysia’s fourth seed Joanne Ng, who is eight years older and ranked significantly higher. Thu Huyen went on to advance deep into the tournaments, further boosting her reputation.
These achievements have propelled her up the world rankings. From position 1,042 in 2025, she climbed to 328 by early 2026, a rise of more than 700 places, making her one of the fastest-rising players in women’s singles.
“Right now, I am among the top 50 junior players in the world. My goal is to break into the top 20 juniors and the top 100 globally. For now, I am focused on preparing for the Youth Olympic Games later this year,” she said.
According to national team coach Ngo Trung Dung, Thu Huyen’s rapid rise reflects years of early investment. She was called up to the national team at just 11 or 12 years old, a rare move that highlights her potential.
“We identified her as a promising talent early on, which is why she was fast-tracked into the national setup. The Vietnamese badminton team has been undergoing strong rejuvenation, focusing on players aged 18 to 20 to compete internationally,” Dung said.
Vietnam is also aiming to secure an additional berth in men’s singles for the Games.
Thu Huyen surges up the world rankings after a string of impressive results in continental tournaments.
The Youth Olympic Games 2026 are scheduled to take place in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, featuring 153 events across 25 sports. However, the absence of key disciplines such as weightlifting and shooting may impact Vietnam’s medal prospects.