Nguyen Tien Minh.—File photo

HA NOI (VNS)– Vietnamese top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh lost to Hidayat Taufik of Indonesia 2-1 in the first round of the Malaysia Open at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Minh, world No 6 and seeded No 3 in the tournament, had a good start in the first set after beating the Indonesian player, world No 17, with a score of 21-10.

However, Olympian Minh was defeated 21-7 and 21-9 in the second and third set.

Taufil was world No 1 in 2000. He was also a two-time Asian Games champion and won an Olympic gold medal in 2004 and a world gold medal in 2005.

HCM City-born Minh has played against Taufik five times, including one time where Minh beat Taufik.

The tournament will last until this Sunday and distribute US$400,000 in prize money. -- VNS