Prior to this match, Linh had already made headlines in the first round by beating Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, India’s world number five and a two-time Olympic medalist.
In the second round, Linh faced Letshanaa, world number 59, who had recently reached the final of the previous Indonesia Masters in November 2024. The Malaysian prodigy started strong, using diverse strategies to force Linh into defensive play, quickly taking a 5-1 lead in the first set.
However, once Linh got a hold of her opponent’s style, she shifted to a slower, more controlled game. She scored seven consecutive points to lead 8-5 and eventually edged out the set 21-18, thanks to precise play and powerful strikes.
Nguyen Thuy Linh delivers a strike during the second round of Indonesia Masters against Karupathevan Letshanaa on Jan. 23, 2025. Photo by Indonesia Masters |
Letshanaa fought back in the second set, capitalizing on Linh’s errors and fatigue, although the Vietnamese player received support from Indonesian expert Harianwan Hong on the sideline.
Despite a mid-set lead by Linh, the Malaysian closed the gap and took control, winning the set 21-17.
The decisive third set was a test of endurance and skill. Both players fought point-for-point, with Letshanaa using tactical delays to unsettle Linh. Letshanaa managed to equalize at 15-15 and briefly take the lead, Linh remained composed. With the support from the Indonesian crowd, she regained control and had two match points at 20-18. Despite losing both opportunities, Linh still managed to deliver two powerful strikes to close the set 22-20.
The dramatic ending saw the crowd standing up and applauding Linh, while Letshanaa, visibly upset, threw her racket and did not shake hands with the opponent. She eventually complied after being reminded by the referee but avoided eye contact with Linh.
Linh, 27, turned professional at 14. She won her first national championship in 2015 and has been Vietnam’s top female badminton player since 2018, claiming seven consecutive national titles and three Vietnam Open championships since 2022. She has also represented Vietnam at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and is currently ranked 28th in the world.
She will face Taiwan’s world number 24 Sung Shuo-yun in the quarterfinals.
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