Minh, ranking 27^th in the world, played a spectacular match with Chong Wei Feng, ranking 81^st. The Malaysian competitor led the first game with the score 21-17, but then Minh reserved the trend to win the second and the third games with the score of 21-10 and 26-24, respectively.

This was the only champion crown that the host team grabbed from the tournament, which gave Minh a bonus of US$2,000. Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, also chairman of the Vietnam Badminton Federation, awarded Minh VND20 million on the spot.

Apart from cash prizes, Minh also pocketed 4,000 points in the world rakings of the World Badminton Federation, which should give him a boost on his way to the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

In other events of the tournament, Malaysia’s Cheah Li Ya Lydia took the first place in the women’s single event. Meanwhile, Liu Fan and Neo Yu Yan from Singapore won the women’s double event; Hong Chieng Hun and Ng Hean Kok from Malaysia, the men’s double event; and Kim Khim Wah and Ng Hui Lin, the mixed double event.

The Robot Vietnam Challenge 2008, held between July 2-6 in Ho Chi Minh City, attracted 281 players, including 92 females from 14 countries and territories with prize awards totalling US$15,000.