Vietnamese pickleball players bring home PPA Tour Asia medals

Trinh Linh Giang was the only Vietnamese player who advanced to two final matches, although he did not win a title.

Trinh Linh Giang plays at the PPA Tour Asia's Hong Kong Open 2025 on Aug. 24, 2025. Photo courtesy of PPA

Giang, the tournament's second seed, lost to No. 1 seed Jack Wong of Hong Kong (China) 2-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-9) in the men's singles final, which was widely considered the best match of the competition.

It was not just the sweet taste of victory for Wong, but also revenge. The Hong Kong star had gone down to Giang last month in the semi-finals of the Panas Malaysia Open.

Giang was later paired with Connie Lee of the U.S. in the mixed doubles final. They suffered a 2-0 (11-1, 11-7) defeat to Aiko Yoshitomi of Japan and Robert Stirling of Australia, who were playing at their peak.

The bronze medal went to former Wimbledon boys doubles winner Ly Hoang Nam, who beat teammate Truong Vinh Hien 2-1 (5-11, 11-7, 11-2) in the third-place playoff.

While the senior Vietnamese players failed to eke out a win, their younger teammates managed to make their names known at the tournament.

Former tennis player Jolie Lam took the title in the U18 women's singles, beating Hiu Lam Cheng of Hong Kong 11-2 in the final before claiming a silver in the U18 mixed doubles.

Tong Nhat Minh and Le Xuan Duc outplayed all of their rivals to win the U18 men's doubles, beating a team from Chinese Taipei 15-4 for the gold. It was their second PPA Tour Asia title in a row after they won in the Malaysia Open last month.

Minh also secured a silver and Huynh Phuc Khang took a bronze in the men' singles event.

The PPA Tour Asia will continue in Japan at the Sansan Fukuoka Open from Aug. 26 to 31 before coming to HCMC for the Vietnam Open from Sept. 4 to 7.

Competitors will then head to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysia Cup from Sept. 24 to 28.