Thuy Linh: 'The Asian Games Arena is Very Harsh, It Is Not Easy to Win a Medal'

At 26 years old, Nguyễn Thùy Linh has already experienced two Olympic appearances and is about to enter her third consecutive Asian Games. But precisely because of this, she understands better than anyone: the Asian badminton arena does not forgive any small mistake. 'The Asian Games arena is very different from regular tournaments,' Thùy Linh shared in an interview with Dân trí newspaper. 'When you step onto the court, you're not only competing against your opponent but also against their entire support system — foreign coaches, fitness experts, professional nutrition programs. For Vietnam, we have to be more self-reliant.' That statement reveals a stark reality that few Vietnamese fans want to acknowledge: the gap between ambition and sporting capability in badminton remains very large. Not because of a lack of talent, but because the system nurturing that talent isn't deep enough. When looking back at Thùy Linh's journey, people are easily drawn to impressive numbers: two Olympic participations, many consecutive years as Vietnam's number one. But placing her in the Asian rankings makes the gap clearer than ever. On the world badminton stage, she must compete not only with individual skills but also face an entire sports ecosystem built over decades in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand. The year 2026 was assessed by Thùy Linh as an unsuccessful year. She didn't achieve the expected results at many international tournaments. This reflects a reality: performance in sports isn't a straight line upward, but a graph of peaks and valleys. For an athlete isolated within the system, each deep valley is hard to escape without deep external support. One of the biggest weaknesses of Vietnamese badminton, as Thùy Linh herself acknowledged, is the lack of foreign coaches. While competitors vying for Asian Games medals like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia all have South Korean, Indonesian, or Chinese experts overseeing training, the Vietnamese team largely relies on domestic coaching staff. This doesn't mean their capabilities are low, but it shows the disparity in strategic perspectives, training methods, and approaches to opponents. 'We know where we stand,' Thùy Linh said. 'No one wants to say uncomfortable things, but the truth is still the truth. To compete at the Asian Games, you need nearly a year of almost perfect preparation. And even when you've prepared well, you still need a bit of luck.' That statement isn't excessive modesty, but an acceptance of reality from someone who has sat on both sides of the boundary: both Vietnam's medal hope and an individual struggling against her own limitations. Asian Games 2026 will be held in Japan, and this will be Thùy Linh's third consecutive Asian Games. For many athletes, maintaining peak performance across three consecutive major competitions is an incredible achievement. But for Thùy Linh, it only shows she's gone through too many competition cycles without any breakthrough changes in the support system around her. She remains the leader, still the one who must find her own way through the strategic maze of world badminton. An element often overlooked in interviews about Vietnamese sports is psychological pressure. Thùy Linh carries not only her own expectations but those of an entire nation hungry for gold medals in badminton. Each match at the Asian Games isn't just a physical confrontation but also a battle with those very burdens. 'I've learned to live with pressure,' she shared. 'But it doesn't always turn into motivation. Sometimes it becomes a wall that prevents you from seeing the way out.' What's noteworthy is that Thùy Linh is not at all pessimistic about the future. She still believes in herself and Vietnamese badminton. But that belief isn't blind — it's built on a foundation of realistic understanding of what needs to change. 'I'm not saying we can't win medals. I'm just saying it's not easy. And we need real changes, not empty promises.' From a strategic perspective, the Asian Games has always been a difficult equation for teams not in Asia's top tier. The round-robin combined with knockout format means every match is decisive. Make one mistake, and you could be eliminated in a day. For Vietnam, the challenge is even greater when facing opponents from China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea — countries with entire professional training systems behind each player. However, one thing Thùy Linh and her teammates can be proud of is that they haven't given up. In a sports environment where investment has never been a top priority, maintaining the team and continuing to contribute to badminton is no small victory. Thùy Linh isn't just an athlete; she's a symbol of perseverance in difficult circumstances. When asked about expectations for the 2026 Asian Games, Thùy Linh didn't give a specific number. She only said she would give her best and wait for results. 'I can't control the outcome,' she said. 'I can only control the preparation process and how I play on court. The rest depends on too many factors I can't predict.' That is the answer of an athlete who has matured over many years. No more hollow promises, no more bold declarations, just accepted reality and an unceasing will. In the context of Vietnamese badminton facing an important turning point, Thùy Linh's story is a reminder that sports isn't just about medals. Sometimes, it's about continuing to stand up when no one supports you, continuing to believe when there's no reason to believe, and continuing to fight when others have given up. The question for Vietnamese sports: how much longer before the support system matches individual efforts like Thùy Linh's? The answer doesn't lie with her, but with those who make policies and allocate resources. And perhaps, that's the toughest match of all.