China Sets Stage for All-China Women’s Singles Final at Badminton Asia Championships
China’s badminton prowess was on full display at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, as Chen Yufei and Han Yue secured spots in the women’s singles final, guaranteeing a gold medal for the host nation.
Olympic champion Chen Yufei delivered a commanding performance in the semifinals, defeating South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin with identical scores of 21-11, 21-11. “I’m thrilled to reach the final, and it’s even more special to face a compatriot,” Chen said after the match.
Han Yue booked her place in the final by overcoming fellow Chinese player Gao Fangjie in a thrilling contest. The victory sets up an exciting all-China showdown in the women’s singles final on Sunday.
In men’s singles, Lu Guangzu staged a remarkable comeback to defeat teammate Li Shifeng in a grueling 78-minute semifinal. After dropping the first game 19-21, Lu rallied to win the next two games 21-10 and 21-14. “I pushed through exhaustion by minimizing unforced errors during extended rallies,” the 29-year-old remarked.
Lu will face Thailand’s reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final, after Vitidsarn overpowered Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 23-21, 21-10 in the other semifinal.
The women’s doubles saw Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida pull off an upset by defeating China’s top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 21-17, 21-10. The Japanese pair will compete for the title against China’s rising stars Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who advanced by beating compatriots Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu.
In men’s doubles, there was a surprise as China’s defending champions Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang fell to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. The Malaysian duo will face China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in the final.
The mixed doubles final will feature Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region against Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito.
The Badminton Asia Championships conclude on Sunday, with China poised to claim multiple titles on home soil.
