Category: Events

“Latest Badminton Tournament News & Updates: Stay Ahead of the Game”

HYLO Open: Opportunity Beckons for Denmark’s Second Seeds
Rasmus Kjær and Frederik Søgaard of Denmark are aiming to solidify their path to the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 as the second-seeded men’s doubles pair enters the Hylo Open 2024. Currently ranked No.10 in the HSBC Race to Finals, they must secure a top-seven finish to qualify, with reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin already guaranteed a spot in the finals among the top eight.
Kjær and Søgaard are trailing Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun by 8,620 points, yet remain hopeful that strong performances at the Hylo Open and the last two qualifying events—the Kumamoto Masters Japan and Li-Ning China Masters—will help close the gap. Having reached two semifinals and two quarterfinals this season, they’re looking for another deep run in Saarbrücken to boost their standing.
Still, they face close competition. Pairs like Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi, both with fewer than 10 events on record, have the potential to gain points quickly and surpass the Danish duo. Kjær and Søgaard realize the importance of maximizing this limited opportunity.
Withdrawals
Alex Lanier (France), who has had an impressive season, is one of four players who have withdrawn from the men’s singles competition, alongside Arnaud Merkle (France), Markus Barth (Norway), and Fabio Caponio (Italy). In men’s doubles, Robert Cybulski/Szymon Slepecki of Poland withdrew, as did two pairs in mixed doubles: Robert Cybulski/Kornelia Marczak (Poland) and Nicolas Franconville/Aline Muller (Switzerland).
Rasmus KJÆR
October 30, 2024
Selena Piek Ends Professional Badminton Career at Dutch Open
Last weekend, Selena Piek marked the end of an era in badminton as she concluded her professional career at the 75th YONEX Dutch Open.
Amid family, friends, and a home crowd, Piek played her final match on familiar soil, where she first gained recognition and showcased her remarkable doubles skills.
A Decade of Partnerships and Achievements
Throughout her career, Piek has been known for her skill in doubles, often teamed with various partners. In women’s doubles, she partnered with Iris Tabeling, Eefje Muskens, and Cheryl Seinen; in mixed doubles, she found success with Jacco Arends and Robin Tabeling—the latter sharing the court with her in her final tournament. Together, they achieved significant wins, earning her a reputation as a fierce competitor on both European and world stages.
Piek’s talent became evident during her junior years in 2009. That year, she won silver in girls’ doubles with Iris Tabeling and secured a gold medal in mixed doubles with Jacco Arends at the European Junior Championships. These early accomplishments laid the foundation for her senior career, where she ultimately amassed seven European Championship medals and captured gold at the European Games with Robin Tabeling last year.
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Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Piek also made an impact off the court. From 2016 to 2020, she served as a member of the Badminton Europe Athletes’ Commission, advocating for players across the continent. She further represented the Netherlands in three Olympic Games.
Reflecting on her retirement, Piek shared mixed emotions, admitting that stepping away from professional badminton won’t be easy. “It’s going to feel strange,” she said, noting that while she’ll still compete in some national leagues, transitioning from the professional circuit is a big change. “It will be a huge transition; I’ve been dedicated to this since I was 15. I foresee some challenges, but I’m also looking forward to enjoying life without the demands of professional badminton.”
At 33, Selena Piek may be leaving professional badminton, but her impressive performances and memorable wins on the court will not be forgotten.
Selena Piek
October 30, 2024
Vieira’s Historic Olympic Journey for Brazil
Juliana Viana Vieira made history at Paris 2024, becoming the first Brazilian to win a badminton match at the Olympics. “I’m proud of the journey I took to realize one of my greatest dreams – the Olympics,” Vieira shared. “The best part was being among top athletes and making history for Brazil. I’m thrilled to have achieved this for my country.”
The Brazilian Olympic Committee, Badminton Pan Am, and the Brazilian Badminton Confederation (CBBD) provided essential support on her path to Paris. Vieira expressed gratitude for the CBBD’s backing, “CBBD supported me in every tournament, helping me qualify. I’m especially thankful for the pre-Olympics training in France.”
From an early age, Vieira knew that her ambitions would require sacrifices. Starting badminton at six, she understood she’d have to be away from family to pursue her goals. “Leaving family behind was tough, but it’s something we athletes go through. We often lack free time to spend with loved ones.”
Coaches and teammates became like family, motivating her through challenging times. “Preparing for Paris was demanding, especially with the mental pressures of the Olympics,” said the 2021 South American Games gold medalist. She credited her coach, Marco Vasconcelos, for his trust and support, and her teammates for pushing her to her best.
Today, Vieira’s Olympic journey has earned her a spot on the Olympic wall at the Badminton Pan Am office, a mark of pride she carries as she aims to keep improving.
October 29, 2024
Kisona Clinches Dutch Open, Ends Three-Year Wait for a Title
Women’s singles shuttler S. Kisona finally broke her three-year title drought by claiming victory at the Dutch Open.
The independent Malaysian player defeated Azerbaijan’s Keisha Fatimah with a score of 21-14, 21-16 in the final held in the Netherlands on Sunday (Oct 27). This marks Kisona‘s first title since winning the Spain International in 2021.
It’s also her first win since parting ways with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) at the end of 2022.
At 26, Kisona is the only Malaysian woman to secure a senior international title in women’s singles this year.
Kisona Selvaduray
October 29, 2024
Leong Jun Hao Needs to Revive Aggressive Play to Bounce Back
Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao needs to return to his former attacking style to turn around his recent poor performance in tournaments.
Before the Paris Olympics in August, Jun Hao was in top form, defeating players like Indonesia’s world No. 4 Jonatan Christie, world No. 10 Anthony Ginting, and Taiwan’s No. 9 Chou Tien-chen, reaching consecutive quarter-finals in the Indonesian and Singapore Opens.
However, the 25-year-old’s performance dropped significantly after the Olympics. In all six individual tournaments following the Olympics, including the Arctic and Denmark Opens earlier this month, he suffered early exits. Men’s singles coach K. Yogendran attributes Jun Hao’s recent struggles to a shift towards a defensive style of play.
“Jun Hao’s strength lies in his aggressive game, which allowed him to upset top players like Jonatan and Anthony,” said Yogendran.
“These wins prove that he knows what he needs to do to succeed, but his recent performances haven’t been up to par because he’s been focusing too much on his defensive weaknesses.”
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“In training, he’s been working on his defense but has neglected to maintain his strengths. This has led him to adopt a defensive approach in tournaments, which isn’t the right strategy for him.”
“I’ve discussed this with him, and he understands the need to return to his aggressive style to regain his form,” added Yogendran.
Yogendran also highlighted that the limited training time and recent changes in the coaching structure have posed challenges to implementing his training program.
“The training period is short now, and there are many tournaments, so it’s difficult to make significant adjustments in the training program,” Yogendran explained. “We are trying to refine Jun Hao‘s game as much as possible in the short time available and also aim to improve his footwork and shots.”
Jun Hao, who reached a career-high No. 27 in July, has now dropped to No. 31 due to his recent lackluster performances. He still has a chance to regain his form by the end of the year in the back-to-back Japan Masters (Nov 12-17) and China Masters (Nov 19-24) tournaments.
Leong Jun Hao
October 29, 2024
Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon Split, Withdraw
Earlier this year, Malaysian badminton player Goh Liu Ying fell victim to a telecom scam, losing around 620,000 RMB. Recently, she posted on social media, hinting that her doubles partner, Chan Peng Soon, had done something “bad” and suggesting they might no longer be able to team up.
Currently, Goh and Chan have unfollowed each other on Instagram. The two have withdrawn from early November’s Japan Masters in Kumamoto and the Korean Masters but are still set to play in the upcoming China Masters in Shenzhen.
Due to speculation surrounding her post, Goh deleted the initial message and later clarified that the withdrawal was due to Chan Peng Soon’s injury, wishing him a speedy recovery. However, she did not clarify what the “bad deed” entailed or respond to further questions.
In 2021, after the Malaysian Badminton Association removed Goh from the national team due to age, Chan chose to leave as well, supporting his longtime partner. This act of loyalty became well-known, despite the mixed outcome of their teamwork since their championship win at the 2022 Korea Open.
They initially planned to compete together through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, recent social media activity suggests a significant rift, casting doubt on their future collaboration.
October 26, 2024
An Se Young Returns to 2024 Denmark Open After Olympic Win
“I’m really happy to be back on the court,” said An Se Young after returning to the 2024 VICTOR Denmark Open, her first match since winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris this summer.
Two months ago, in the final held in the French capital, the Korean star defeated He Bingjiao to claim the championship before temporarily stepping away from the badminton scene.
“I was nervous, but after winning the Olympics, I’m happy to be back,” added the 22-year-old with a smile after defeating Pornpicha Choeikeewong 21-16, 21-8.
“I tried to adapt to the conditions of the first match, understand the situation, and regain my feel on the court. I love stepping onto the badminton court—it’s my happy place. I had a lot of rest after Paris. I needed the break to recover from injuries. While my injuries haven’t completely healed, I’m working on it.”
After missing the 2023 season, An is glad to be competing in Odense.
“Denmark is lovely and clean. I’m happy to be back and play in front of the fans. It’s also great to be back on the tour with my teammates. I missed it, but I had time to be with family and friends, doing things I enjoy, like eating Korean BBQ.”
An Se Young will face the winner of the match between Ratchanok Intanon and Yvonne Li in the second round.
An Se Young
October 16, 2024
Jeffer Rosobin Takes Over Senior Women’s Singles Team
Jeffer Rosobin, an Indonesian coach, has been assigned to boost the performance of Malaysia’s senior women’s singles shuttlers following his successful stint with the juniors. Jeffer, who joined BAM at the end of last year, recently transitioned from coaching juniors to leading the senior women’s singles team.
During his time with the juniors, the 48-year-old guided them to one gold, one silver, and one bronze at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China. The boys’ doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing secured the gold, while the girls’ doubles duo Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu took home a surprise silver. Both pairs contributed to the team’s bronze in the mixed team event.
In July, under Jeffer’s leadership, the team also captured four medals at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta: Aaron-Khai Xing won silver, Siti Zulaikha Azmi secured bronze in girls’ singles, and the girls’ doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting won bronze, alongside a bronze for the mixed team.
Although Zulaikha missed the World Junior Championships due to a heel injury, Jeffer remains satisfied with his junior coaching performance. Now, he is eager to make a positive impact as he replaces K. Yogendran as the new senior women’s singles coach, with Yogendran moving to the men’s singles team.
Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Jeffer expressed his gratitude to BAM for the opportunity. He emphasized the importance of fitness, a positive mindset, and strong teamwork for the senior women’s team, which includes K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Zulaikha, and Oo Shan Zi.
October 16, 2024
Lee Zii Jia Still in the Race for World Tour Finals Despite Setback
Men’s singles badminton player Lee Zii Jia (pictured) still has a chance to qualify for the prestigious World Tour Finals, scheduled from December 11 to 15 in Hangzhou, despite missing the Denmark Open due to an ankle injury.
Recently, Lee Zii Jia suffered a major blow when he injured his ankle during his quarterfinal loss to world No. 13 Koki Watanabe of Japan at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland.
The 26-year-old player couldn’t shake off the injury and had to withdraw from the Denmark Open in Odense yesterday.
Team LZJ said in a statement, “After arriving in Odense on Sunday, we still hoped and planned for Lee Zii Jia to participate in the Denmark Open despite his ankle injury sustained in the Arctic Open quarterfinal.”
“Lee appeared on court today (yesterday), but discomfort in his ankle prevented him from performing at match-level intensity.
“After further consideration, I am deeply saddened to announce my withdrawal from the Denmark Open.”
This is a double setback for Lee Zii Jia, as he also dropped three places in the latest world rankings, from fourth to seventh.
However, the independent player still has a chance to qualify for the World Tour Finals, as he moved up one spot to fifth in the Hangzhou circuit rankings.
To qualify, Lee Zii Jia must maintain a top-eight position and hopes to regain form while competing in the Japan Masters (November 12–17) and China Masters (November 19–24).
Meanwhile, Leong Jun Hao, currently ranked No. 2 in Malaysia, fell to world No. 30 after losing to Hong Kong’s world No. 15 Lee Cheuk Yiu in the first round of the Arctic Open.
Jun Hao faces a tough task today in the first round of the Denmark Open, where he will meet world No. 3 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.
With Lee Zii Jia out, Jun Hao remains the sole Malaysian representative in the men’s singles at the Odense event.
Lee Zii Jia
October 16, 2024
Thrilling Performances on Denmark Open Opening Day
The exciting first day of the Denmark Open is nearing its conclusion, with spectators treated to thrilling, high-quality badminton action. Many European players participated, and several have already advanced to Thursday’s second round.
The French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue were on the verge of elimination after losing the first set and trailing 19-14 in the second. They then fell behind 20-17 in the second game but made a fierce comeback with nothing to lose, which was exactly what they needed to turn the match around. You can watch their full interview on Badminton Europe’s YouTube channel.
Mia Blichfeldt also secured a much-needed victory—her first win since the Olympics and her first under coach Popov. Alex Lanier and Viktor Axelsen both won their first matches in straight sets and are set to face off on Thursday for the first time since 2022.
Alexandra Bøje and Robin Tabeling made their debut as new partners, defeating Germany’s Jones Ralfy Jansen and Nhan Tuan Phuong with a convincing 21-11, 21-14 victory. Another relatively new pair, Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund, impressed by defeating the strong Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-19, 13-21, 21-12. In the next round, they will face Spain’s Rubén García and Lucía Rodríguez.
In addition to these results, several other European players have secured spots in Thursday’s second round.
Wednesday’s schedule is packed with more European stars. Germany’s Yvonne Li will face the 2017 champion Ratchanok Intanon, while Christo Popov will challenge the in-form seventh seed Lee Zii Jia. His brother Toma Junior Popov has a tough first-round match against world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. The Popov brothers also face a challenge in doubles, where they will meet the world No. 2 pair Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Kim Astrup.
Additionally, the energetic British pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy will face tough competition against Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
Viktor Axelsen
October 16, 2024
Chou Tien Chen Tested for Doping Right After Victory
Chou Tien Chen dominated last week’s Super 500 Arctic Open, claiming his second title of the season, only to be called in for a doping test immediately after.
Chou cruised through the Arctic Open, ultimately defeating Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in the final with a straight-set victory, 21-18, 21-17, securing his second title this season.
This week, Chou Tien Chen continues his busy schedule at the Super 750 Denmark Open. His physiotherapist, Gao Min-Shan (known as “Gao Jie”), shared on social media that “Chou was tested for doping right after arriving at the hotel.” Gao added humorously, “This is a recognition of our efforts.”
World No. 9 Chou Tien Chen will face Wang Tzu Wei in the first round of the Denmark Open, where Chou has claimed victory in all 11 of their past international meetings.
Jonatan Christie
Chou Tien Chen
October 16, 2024
Astrup/ Rasmussen Claim Silver at Arctic Open
After a week of stellar performances, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen earned a well-deserved silver medal at the CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024, powered by YONEX.
As the last European representatives in the tournament, the Danish pair faced Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin from Malaysia in a gripping final. The Malaysians had an impressive run, knocking out both fourth seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto, as well as top seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang to secure their spot in the final.
Astrup and Rasmussen got off to a strong start, winning the first game, but Goh and Nur bounced back, finding their form to take the final in three thrilling games (15-21, 21-15, 21-19).
Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
Kim Astrup
Full list of medalists from the CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024:
Mixed doubles
1. Feng Yan Zhe/ Huang Dong Ping [1]
2. Jiang Zhen Bang/ Wei Ya Xin [2]
Women’s singles
1. Han Yue [2]
2. Ratchanok Intanon
Men’s doubles
1. Goh Sze Fei/ Nur Izzuddin [5]
2. Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen [2]
Women’s doubles
1. Liu Sheng Shu/ Tan Ning [1]
2. Pearly Tan/ Thinaah Muralitharan [3]
Men’s singles
1. Chou Tien Chen [7]
2. Jonatan Christie [5]
October 15, 2024