Source:Panoramic /Baptiste Autissier
[Saba Sports News] The 2026 Vietnam International Challenge has reached its final day of competition. In the mixed doubles final, Japanese pair Hiroki Midorikawa / Nami Matsuyama faced off against Hong Kong China pair CHAN Yin Chak / NG Tsz Yau.In the first game, with the Japanese pair leading 18–13, Nami Matsuyama accidentally twisted her left knee, forcing the Japanese team to retire from the match and settle for a disappointing runner-up finish. Matsuyama was unable to get up after the injury and was eventually carried off on a stretcher. Judging from her painful expression, her injury appeared to be quite serious.
Midorikawa and Matsuyama only officially formed their partnership this season. Due to their recent pairing, they posted unsatisfactory results at high-level tournaments earlier this year, including the Malaysia Open and India Open, and thus had to compete in lower-level events to accumulate ranking points. Starting from the Ruichang China Masters on March 10, the two shuttlers traveled extensively from Asia to Europe and back to Asia, competing consecutively amid long journeys and not at their physical peak.
They reached the quarterfinals at the Ruichang China Masters, then headed to Europe for the Polish Open, where they claimed the title. Without rest, they immediately traveled to Vietnam for the Vietnam International Challenge, only to suffer an unfortunate injury while leading in the final. Following Matsuyama’s injury, the future of their partnership has been cast into doubt.
In the opinion of the author, Nami Matsuyama’s severe injury is not only a setback in her own athletic career but also reflects the contradiction between high risks and low rewards that top athletes face when competing in lower-level tournaments.