Le Duc Phat: Everything you need to know about HS Prannoy’s last group stage opponent at the Paris Olympics

Vietnam's Le Duc Phat is the last hurdle standing between HS Prannoy and the elimination rounds at the Paris Olympics. The duo will take to the courts of La Chapelle Arena on Wednesday, July 31, with the Indian a heavy favorite for the win.

Phat originally experimented with many different sports as a young kid and settled on badminton when he was 16. Three years later, his decision paid off, as he stormed to the gold at the 2017 Pakistan International Series. The Vietnamese quickly rose through the ranks, entering the world's top 150 in 2018. He continued that momentum the next year, playing quarter-finals at a handful of international events.

However, the 26-year-old's luck soon ran out as injury and Covid saw him compete in only one BWF event between 2020 and 2021. Le Duc Phat got back to regularly competing at the international level in 2022, but faced early exits in all events except the Lithuanian International.

For the Vietnamese, 2023 was the year of the comeback. That season, Phat walked away with silver medals in both the Apacs Kazakhstan Future Series as well as the Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge. 2023 also saw him win the Tajikistan International Series after he beat first seed Ade Resky Dwicahyo in straight games in the final.

So far this Olympic year, the 26-year-old has competed in seven international events, winning the Uganda International Challenge.

Le Duc Phat at the Paris Olympics

Le Duc Phat qualified for the Paris Olympics via his ranking on the ‘BWF Race to Paris’ list and was given the honor of being a flag bearer for Vietnam upon his debut at the Games.

So far at the 2024 Olympics, Phat has been in action only once, when he took on Germany’s Fabian Roth for his first group stage match. The Vietnamese disposed of his opponent 21-10, 21-10 with relative ease.

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