Badminton star Nhat Nguyen has revealed how his quick footwork once impressed Olympic gold medal boxer Michael Carruth - and that he would one day like to train like an MMA fighter.
The Tokyo 2020 hopeful relies on speedy movement and razor-sharp reflexes to chase the shuttlecock around the court.
As a schoolboy, he once put that skill to use in front of the legendary ring ace.
“When I was in sixth class there was a boxing programme and that was the only time I ever put the gloves on,” he told Fitter Happier.
“I was coached by Michael Carruth. He came to school and he was part of the programme that I did.
“I won my fight. That’s all I remember. I did get a nosebleed during the fight, but I did alright.
“I loved it. I was quite light on my feet and I do a lot of skipping for my badminton training, so Michael seemed to like something about me.
“I was able to move around, but I didn’t have that power. That was the problem.
“I could jab and move.”
Would he be tempted to step back into the ring?
“I really enjoyed it. It was something different,” he replied. “But I definitely wouldn’t risk my badminton career for another go in the ring.”
“I’d lose an eye or something and then my career would be over.
“I wouldn’t risk it, not until I’m finished with badminton.
“But a lot of my training would be similar. To stay in good shape I do a lot of running and skipping.
“For badminton you have to be light on your feet, kind of like boxing.
“You have to change direction here and there, so skipping is very good for that.”
At just 20 years of age, Nguyen has plenty of time left on the badminton court.
But when he does quit, there is another combat sport on his radar.
“I’d like to do crossfit and MMA,” he said. “My sister and brother in law are really big into weightlifting and crossfit.
“After badminton I would like to stay fit and do crossfit.
“Also MMA, I’m a big fan of Conor McGregor.
“But I’d just like to train and get to know some grappling, jiu jitsu and wrestling and boxing.
“I’d like to just get to know how to do it, not compete, just get to know the sport.
“I watch a lot on YouTube, all the fighters, and I’d like to do those things after badminton.
“It’s another way to stay fit and to stay in shape.”
What about challenging McGregor to another cross-sport bout? McGregor stepped out of the octagon to fight Floyd Mayweather in the ring.
How about Nguyen versus McGregor - one set of badminton and one round of MMA?
“I think it would be 1-1. But it depends if I’d come out alive from the fight,” joked Nguyen.
* THREE-TIME National Badminton Champion and 2017 Under-17 European Championship gold-medallist Nhat Nguyen is one of the stars of a video series - created by Team Ireland sponsor FBD Insurance - looking at some of Ireland’s Olympic hopefuls.
The mini-documentary, titled ‘My Olympic Journey’, shows the challenges Nguyen faced having moved to Ireland from Vietnam as a child and taking up badminton at the age of seven.
In January, Nguyen was announced as one of the recipients of the ‘Make A Difference’ programme, a €50,000 grant funded by the Olympic Federation of Ireland, in conjunction with FBD.
Nguyen’s video can be found on FBD’s social channels.
