Nguyen Hai Dang Clinches First International Title for Vietnam at Fajr International Challenge 2024
Conor Hudson
Fri Feb 09 2024
The Fajr International Challenge 2024 in Iran has witnessed a groundbreaking victory for Vietnamese badminton. Nguyen Hai Dang, the 13th seed, secured his first international title of the year with a remarkable win in the men's singles semifinals against Sri Lankan player Viren Nettasinghe. Now, all eyes are on the final where the 97th-ranked player from Vietnam will face India's top-seeded Sathish Kumar Karunakaran.
In the challenging men's singles semifinal, "Little Momota" Nguyen Hai Dang prevailed against the formidable opponent, Viren Nettasinghe, ranked 76th in the world. Despite the tough battle, the young player from Ho Chi Minh City showcased his skill and determination, clinching the well-deserved victory with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-19. With this win, Dang has earned a spot in the final where he will face the world's 49th-ranked player, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran from India.
Meanwhile, the Thailand Masters 2024 men's singles final promises an exciting clash for badminton enthusiasts. The 14th-ranked player, Chou Tien Chen, will go head-to-head against Singapore's 12th-ranked player, Loh Kean Yew. Chou Tien Chen, a former world number 2 from Chinese Taipei, fought his way to the final after a streak of unfortunate defeats. He conquered Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands with a convincing score of 21-15, 21-12.
In the women's category, the Thai crowd experienced disappointment as their star player, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, fell to Japan's Aya Ohori, ranked 15th in the world, with a 21-16, 21-12 scoreline. As a result, the anticipated all-Thai final was shattered. On the other side of the semifinals, Supanida Katethong, ranked 17th, comfortably defeated India's Ashmita Chaliha, ranked 61st, with a score of 21-13, 21-12. This victory marks Katethong's first entry into a final since the US Open in July 2023, adding more competition to the race for seedings in the Olympic Paris 2024 qualification, alongside Nguyen Thuy Linh.
Nguyen Hai Dang's triumph in the Fajr International Challenge 2024 has etched a significant chapter in Vietnamese badminton history. With his first international title of the year, Dang has proven his exceptional skills on the court. As badminton fans eagerly await the final, they are filled with anticipation for a thrilling showdown between Dang and the top seed, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran. Let's send our best wishes to Nguyen Hai Dang for a successful outcome!