Chinese badminton players kicked off the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, with a strong performance, securing six wins out of nine matches on the first day.
Men’s Singles Highlights
Home favorite Shi Yuqi triumphed over Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in a thrilling three-set match, winning 21-16, 17-21, 21-8 in Group B. “I won because I played with better patience,” Shi said. “My opponent is great on both offense and defense. I learned from our previous matches and focused on improving my transitions.”
In Group A, Li Shifeng faced a tough challenge against Denmark’s top seed Anders Antonsen and was defeated 21-14, 21-19.
Women’s Singles Success
Top seed Wang Zhiyi delighted the home crowd by defeating Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-19, 21-14 in Group A. Meanwhile, second seed Han Yue edged out Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi with a 21-19, 21-17 victory in Group B.
Women’s Doubles Domination
The Chinese women’s doubles teams showcased exceptional skill. Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning rallied from behind to beat India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela 20-22, 22-20, 21-14 in Group A. Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan cruised past Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, winning 21-11, 21-17.
“We are still in the process of gradually learning from our experiences in major events,” Liu shared after the match. Tan added, “As young players, we face opponents who are older than us. We approach each match with a mindset focused on challenging them and learning from them.”
Mixed Doubles All-Chinese Clash
In a thrilling mixed doubles match, Jiang Zhengbang and Wei Yanxin emerged victorious against compatriots Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, winning 21-17, 22-20 in Group A.
Men’s Doubles Challenges
In men’s doubles Group B, He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu faced a tough match against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, ultimately falling 21-17, 18-21, 15-21.
The Chinese shuttlers aim to build on their strong start as the tournament continues, with fans eagerly anticipating more exciting matches in the days ahead.
Reference(s):
Chinese shuttlers begin World Tour Finals with six wins, three losses
cgtn.com
