HANOI (VNS) — Viet Nam's badminton ace Nguyen Tien Minh is set to miss the Badminton World Federation (BWF)'s first major international tournament, in India on May 18-25.

Under new rules set by organisers of Thomas Cup 2014, his absence could push Minh out of the world top 10 places because he will not be able to accumulate any point.

According to the BWF, since the beginning of this year, the HCM City native has competed in six international events, recording first round losses in three - Malaysia Open, All England Open and Asian Badminton Championships; and not going beyond the second at the Singapore Open.

He reached the quarter-finals of the South Korea Open and won the Ciputra Ha Noi-Yonex Sunrise Viet Nam International Challenge.

Minh, world No 10, has been training at HCM City's Phu Tho Gymnasium in preparation for the National Mixed Team Badminton Tournament that begins today in the northern province of Bac Giang. — VNS