Pham Cao Cuong.— File Photo

HANOI (VNS) — Pham Cao Cuong of Viet Nam won a silver medal at the Korea Junior Open Badminton Championships, which closed yesterday in Jeonju city, the capital of North Jeolla Province.

Cuong, tournament No 4, played under his capacity and lost 4-21, 13-21 to Choi Sol-kyu, No 5, of the host in the boys' under-19 category.

The silver was still a positive result for the 17-year-old as it was his first international medal.

Cuong will next play at the Li Ning Singapore Youth International starting on November 25.

In other badminton news, Vietnamese No 1 Nguyen Tien Minh has withdrawn from the Viet Nam Open Super Series, which will kick off early next month.

The world No 7 reasoned that he wanted to focus on the SEA Games, which will also be organised at the same time in Myanmar.

Despite being in the world top 10 for many years, Minh has never won a SEA Games title. Nor has any player from Viet Nam.

Minh will compete tomorrow at the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open on November 19-24. It will be his last preparation for the SEA Games, the badminton portion of which begins on December 9. — VNS