Chen Yufei, China’s badminton star, captivated the home crowd in Ningbo on Sunday as she secured her first Badminton Asia Championships title. In an electrifying all-Chinese women’s singles final, the 27-year-old overcame a shaky start to defeat compatriot Han Yue in three thrilling sets.
After dropping the first set 11-21, Chen rallied to take the next two sets 21-14 and 21-9, sealing her victory in a grueling 66-minute match. This triumph marks a significant comeback for Chen, who has been working tirelessly to return to top form following an extended hiatus.
“I’ve learned to play more relaxed and enjoy the game rather than feeling stressed,” Chen said after the match. “There’s still room for improvement as I continue regaining my best condition.”
In the men’s singles final, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn claimed the continental title after China’s Lu Guangzu retired due to a back injury while trailing 21-12, 11-6. “I have won the Asian Youth Championships before, so this title means a lot to me,” Vitidsarn shared.
China also celebrated victory in the women’s doubles, with top seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning defeating Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida 21-15, 21-19. However, in the men’s doubles final, Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik overcame China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi with a score of 21-19, 21-17.
In mixed doubles, Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet captured the title by defeating Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito.
