A young Vietnamese badminton player passed away at a very early age, with hospitals unable to determine the cause.

The Vietnamese badminton community was met with sorrowful news during the initial days of the new year.

Nguyen Duc Hong Phuc - a young player under Ho Chi Minh City's roster - suddenly died at the age of 21, leaving fans in mourning. badminton Vietnam.

"The Ho Chi Minh City Badminton Federation is shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of athlete Nguyen Duc Hong Phuc - a young, resilient teammate who always competed with a spirit of complete dedication for the Ho Chi Minh City Badminton Team jersey. During his time with the team, Hong Phuc continually strived, overcame many challenges to prove himself, and contributed proud achievements to the city's badminton.", an excerpt from the post by the Ho Chi Minh City Badminton Federation.

Hong Phuc, born in 2004, was a promising player for the national badminton team, specializing in doubles. He helped the Ho Chi Minh City team win the National Men's Team Championships in 2024 and 2025, and won the bronze medal in men's doubles at the 2025 National Outstanding Players Badminton Championships, among other achievements.

At the international level, Hong Phuc recently made a significant mark by winning the men's doubles bronze medal at the Bangladesh International Challenge 2025, and reaching the quarterfinals of the Bangladesh International Series the following week - partnering with teammate Bui Thanh Dat, while currently holding a world ranking of 261 in men's doubles.

Not long ago, Nguyen Duc Hong Phuc suddenly developed a high fever and was taken to the hospital by his family. Despite exhaustive medical efforts, the player from Ha Tinh province did not survive the severe illness.

According to information from NLD, top hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City such as Cho Ray Hospital, Hospital 115, etc., conducted all tests but could not identify the cause of Hong Phuc's death. The family also suspects he may have been infected with the Nipah virus during his international competition period in Bangladesh.