BADMINTON-Ciputra Hà Nội-Yonex Sunrise Việt Nam International Challenge: HÀ NỘI – Vietnamese badminton player Nguyễn Tiến Minh. — Photo khampha.vn

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HÀ NỘI — Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyễn Tiến Minh won the first round of the Ciputra Hà Nội-Yonex Sunrise Việt Nam International Challenge badminton tournament.The tournament started at Tây Hồ District’s Gymnasium on March 22. Olympian Minh, No 2 seed, beat Nyoman Tryadnya Arya Kurniawan of Indonesia 21-18, 21-13 after 35 minutes.

The 35-year-old Vietnamese is World No 48, while the 18-year-old Indonesian ranks 404 in the world.

This year’s tournament will see Minh defending his title, which he won last year.

The HCM City-born player will next face 18-year-old Kittipong Imnark of Thailand, World No 328.

Another Vietnamese player, Phạm Cao Cường, World No 84, also won in the first round. He defeated World No 265 Korakrit Laotrakul of Thailand 21-15, 21-17.

In the second round, Cường will meet Chen Chi Ting of Chinese Taipei, World No 262.

Meanwhile, top seed Kento Momota of Japan, World No 26, easily won against Shih Kuei Chun of Chinese Taipei, World No 136. Momota beat his rival 21-14, 21-7 after 35 minutes.Update: March, 23/2018 – 17:30

The Japanese will face Kean Yew Loh of Singapore, World No 256, in the next round. — VNS / Viet Nam News / Update: March, 23/2018 – 17:30 // All photographs, news, editorials, opinions, information, data, others have been taken from the Internet ..aseanews.net | [email protected] / For comments, Email to : SPORTS STATION | [email protected] | Contributor