China’s badminton superstar Chen Yufei showcased her unwavering dominance by seizing the women’s singles title at the BWF Singapore Open on Sunday. The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist defeated fellow compatriot and Asian champion Wang Zhiyi with a commanding 21-11, 21-11 victory in just 48 minutes.
Chen’s triumph marks a remarkable comeback after a challenging period following an unexpected quarterfinal exit at the Paris Olympics last August. Taking time off to reflect, she pursued a three-month English course in Melbourne before returning to the court with renewed vigor in February.
Since her return, Chen has been unstoppable. She snapped the 27-match winning streak of South Korea’s World No. 1 An Se-young in the quarterfinals and extended her own winning streak to 22 consecutive victories by overpowering Wang in the final.
On the men’s side, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn captured the spotlight by defeating China’s Lu Guangzu with an impressive 21-6, 21-10 win. At just 24, Vitidsarn’s fourth title this season propels him toward the World No. 1 ranking in the upcoming BWF standings, making him the first men’s singles player born since 2000 to achieve this feat.
The BWF Singapore Open highlighted the rising stars of badminton, promising an exciting future for the sport as new talents continue to emerge on the global stage.
