Ireland’s top badminton star Nhat Nguyen has made a winning start at the World Championships in Paris, defeating Canadian rival Brian Yang in a closely contested opening round tie.
The result is a boost not only to Nguyen’s ambitions of breaking into the top tier of the sport, but also to his determination to send his long-time coach off on a high.
Nguyen, ranked 30th in the world, had faced Yang, ranked 31st, once before three years ago, losing narrowly. This time, he found the extra edge.
“A lot has happened since then for both of us,” Nguyen reflected. “But this one meant more – it’s my coach’s last tournament with me, and I wanted to make it count.”
The Paris event is being staged in the same arena that hosted badminton at the 2024 Olympic Games, where Nguyen competed last summer.
In preparation for these World Championships, he spent two weeks in Marseille sparring with some of Europe’s and Asia’s top players.
“It was nonstop, two or three sessions a day, matches and drills,” he explained. “In Ireland, I don’t get that level of practice. These camps give me the best chance to perform at this level.”
Nguyen’s coach, Malaysian Iskandar, has been at his side for almost four years, guiding him through highs and lows, including a career-best top-25 ranking and breakthrough wins over top-10 players. But the partnership is ending after Paris, with Iskandar returning to Malaysia to take up a national role. “It came as a surprise,” Nguyen admitted. “I felt like the best was yet to come between us. But I understand – it’s elite sport. Results bring opportunities.”
In his place, another familiar figure will step forward. Yoh Sengzo, a former sparring partner who went on to coach Ireland’s juniors, will now take over Nguyen’s corner. “It feels a bit like a coaching pipeline,” Nguyen joked. “But Yoh knows me well, he’s from the same Malaysian school of thought, and I have a good feeling about working with him.”
That continuity will be vital as Nguyen balances the demands of a relentless world tour. After Paris, he will barely pause before heading to Asia for a run of tournaments in Hong Kong, China, and Korea. “It’s nonstop,” he said. “You have to arrive early, beat the jet lag, and train with the local players. That’s how you keep improving.”
Nguyen is candid about the challenges of sustaining a professional career from Ireland, a country without a deep badminton tradition.
He funds extra sparring partners and pays his own strength coach, supplementing support from Badminton Ireland with income from European league play. “It’s an expensive sport,” he said. “But I’ve been lucky with support from sponsors and the Olympic Federation. And having more responsibilities off the court – being married, helping with my sister Thammy’s business – it’s made me more grounded.”
His marriage has been a source of stability during a nomadic career. Nguyen met his wife, Meen, in Thailand during a tournament in 2022. “We matched on Tinder while I was playing the Thailand Open,” he laughed. “At first we were seeing each other every couple of months between tournaments. After the Olympics last year she moved to Ireland, and she’s been here ever since.”
That maturity shows in how he now approaches setbacks. “I wasn’t ready when I first hit the top 25,” he admitted. “It was during COVID, some of the big nations weren’t sending players. I didn’t belong there then. Now, at 30 in the world, I can hold my head high. I’ve beaten higher-ranked players, I deserve to be here.”
Looking ahead, Nguyen is allowing himself to dream bigger. “If you asked me in 2023, I’d have said top 30 was my ceiling. Now I believe top 10 is possible. Asian players peak young, but I think my curve is different. If I stay healthy and keep the drive, why not?”
For now, the focus is firmly on Paris, where his first-round win has set up another test against a higher-ranked opponent. He will face World Number 8 Kodai Naraoka of Japan on Wednesday. Check out details of how to watch in our Seven Day Guide to TV and Streaming.
“Let’s go step by step,” he said with a smile. “I’m 30 in the world now. Next target is top 20. Hopefully next time we talk, I’ll be in an even better place.”
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