Badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh will defend his title at the Viet Nam Open-Yonex Sunrise Cup which starts on August 20 in HCM City.

Minh, who is ranked world No 11, is seeded No 1 and the only player from Viet Nam in the men's single event starting in the main round.

However, according to Huynh Thi Lien, deputy chairwoman of the City's Badminton Federation, it will not be easy for him although he will receive great support from home fans.

Minh will face powerful Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, No 2, of Indonesia, Ajay Jayaram, No 3, from India, and Takuma Ueda of Japan. All have made big progress recently.

The Vietnamese will play Adi Pratama of India in the first match.

Apart from Minh, only the female double Vu Thi Trang and Nguyen Thi Sen will be allowed to play in the main round.

More than 320 players from 28 countries and territories will compete for a total of US$50,000, with the winner in the singles events receiving $3,750 and in the double events $3,950.

The finals are scheduled on August 26. — VNS