>> Minh holds on to seventh place in world badminton rankings

The US$20 million centre, expected to cover an area of 10,000 sq.m, will be home to over 100 top badminton players, including a 2,500-seat Gymnasium near the My Dinh Sports Complex, 12km west of central Hanoi.

“The project is part of a sport development programme for 2011-15 by which VBF plans to train a new generation of top badminton players over the next five years,” Sang said.

Although Vietnam currently has around 300 top players, only Nguyen Tien Minh has reached professional status.

The Hanoi-based badminton centre, scheduled for completion next year, will scout for around 50 kids, aged between 8-9 years old, to do five years’ full - time training.

“The centre will also train athletes from other Asian countries. The VBF, with assistance from the Asian Badminton Confederation, will hire top coaches to train kids on a long term basis,” the VBF’s general secretary said.

He expressed hope that the elite centre in Hanoi would provide Vietnam with the best possible players for world competitions by 2015.