Category: Star Power News

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Chen Tangjie/Toh Ee Wei won the First Title, Guo Xinwa/Li Qian finished as the Runners-Up
Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei overcame Guo Xinwa and Li Qian in a three-set comeback to claim their first international title of the year.
In the finals of the Korea Open today, Malaysia’s 4th seeds Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei came back from a set down to defeat the Chinese dark horses Guo Xinwa and Li Qian with scores of 17-21, 21-13, and 21-13, winning their first international encounter.
After reaching finals at the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open, Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei finally secured their first international title of the year. This victory marks their return to the winner’s circle after 14 months since the Chinese Taipei Open in June last year, and it is their first Super 500 title. Previously, they had won the Orleans Masters and Chinese Taipei Open, both of which were Super 300 events.
In the first set, Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei fell behind after a 3-all tie, trailing 8-15 at one point. Despite closing the gap to 14-16, they eventually lost the set 17-21.
In the second set, Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei started strong with a 4-0 lead. Although Guo Xinwa and Li Qian closed the gap to 3 points, Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei quickly regained control, leading 17-6 after an 8-0 run and eventually won 21-13.
In the decisive third set, Chen Tangjie and Toh Ee Wei allowed their opponents to reduce their lead to 2 points (13-11) after being up 13-8. However, they then scored 5 straight points from 16-13 to secure the final victory with a score of 21-13.
September 3, 2024
Wang Chi-lin and New Partner Make Rapid Progress: Performance Exceeds Expectations
Wang Chi-lin and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh, lost to the strong Korean duo of Seo Seung-jae and Kang Min-hyuk with scores of 27-25, 23-25, and 11-21 in the semifinals of the Super 500 Series Korea Open. Following the match, Wang Chi-lin commented, “The results have exceeded expectations, and the performance is quite satisfactory.”
The Lin-Chiu pair fought hard for 68 minutes before falling short of reaching the final. Wang Chi-lin noted, “Although it’s a bit disappointing, the results have exceeded expectations, and the performance is quite satisfactory. There is still plenty of room for improvement and adjustment.”
Wang Chi-lin also praised his new partner, the 21-year-old Chiu Hsiang-hsiang, saying, “My younger partner, Chiu, performed admirably. We will continue to work hard!”
Furthermore, the Chinese Taipei Open will commence on September 3rd, where Wang Chi-lin will reunite with Lee Yang to defend their home court. “Next week, I’ll be back with Lee Yang. See you at the Chinese Taipei Open!” The Lin-Lee pair is the top seed in men’s doubles, and this will be Lee Yang’s final participation in the Chinese Taipei Open.
September 3, 2024
Zheng Siwei: I Became an Autograph Machine
Zheng Siwei recently shared several vlogs on his social media, mentioning that he has become an autograph machine since returning home. His parents and grandmother prepared many photos and clothes for him to sign.
While signing, Zheng Siwei said, “When I got home, my dad, mom, and grandma prepared so many clothes and photos to welcome me. The first thing I did was sign them.”
Zheng Siwei’s mother mentioned that relatives and friends are all his fans and that they all wanted his signed photos.
In another vlog, Zheng Siwei showed off two gold medals with special significance.
Hugging his grandmother, Zheng Siwei said to the camera, “Three years ago, Grandma made this pure gold medal herself to make up for my disappointment in the last Olympics. This time, I’m giving her this real Olympic gold medal as a reward, haha!”
Today, Zheng Siwei, along with the main team, visited Hong Kong as part of the Mainland Chinese Olympic delegation following the Paris Olympics.
September 3, 2024
Wang Zhiyi Apologizes for Withdrawing from the Finals
The finals of the Korea Open Badminton Championships were scheduled for today, but Chinese No. 2 seed Wang Zhiyi announced her withdrawal before the match. Her opponent in the women’s singles final, Korea’s No. 7 seed Kim Ga-eun, won the championship by default.
After the match, Wang Zhiyi updated her social media to apologize, writing, “I am very sorry that I had to withdraw due to health reasons. I will take a short rest and come back soon. Thank you for being so concerned.”
In yesterday’s semifinals, world No. 6 Wang Zhiyi battled for 1 hour and 18 minutes, narrowly defeating fellow host nation player Shim Yu-jin with a score of 19-21, 21-13, 24-22.
September 3, 2024
Anders Antonsson Exposes Coach’s Betting Scandal
According to Danish media outlet TV2, just before the 2024 Korea Open, Danish badminton star Anders Antonsen discovered that his coach, Pedersen, was involved in betting activities. In response, Antonsen dismissed his coach and chose to compete in the tournament alone.
Since Viktor Axelsen left the Danish national team in 2021 to establish his own training base in Dubai, Antonsen followed suit the next year, also training in Dubai long-term. This year, in preparation for the Paris Olympics, both players returned to the Danish national team to fight for national glory. Ultimately, Axelsen claimed the men’s singles gold medal, while Antonsen was unfortunately eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Last week, Antonsen withdrew from the Japan Open due to a shoulder injury. This week, at the Korea Open, the second-seeded Antonsen competed alone without his coach. In the quarterfinal match against Taipei’s Lin Chun-yi, he fought through three sets but lost 1-2 (13-21, 21-17, 19-21), ending his run in the top eight.
Danish media reported that Antonsen accidentally discovered that his coach, Pedersen, was involved in betting activities. Although the bets did not directly involve Antonsen’s matches, such behavior still constitutes a serious breach of sports ethics and professional conduct. Antonsen immediately took action by terminating his partnership with Pedersen and voluntarily reported the matter to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
On his personal Instagram, Antonsen publicly announced this decision, stating that despite the help and guidance Pedersen had provided, as an athlete, he could not tolerate any form of betting, as it tarnishes the spirit of sportsmanship.
A similar scandal occurred at the 2012 London Olympics when eight women’s doubles players, including Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli, Kim Ha-na/Jung Kyung-eun, Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung, and Polii/Jauhari, were accused of deliberately losing matches. The incident sparked worldwide condemnation, and the BWF quickly responded by expelling the four pairs involved from the tournament.
In the aftermath, the BWF began cracking down on match-fixing and betting. According to regulations, everyone involved in badminton is subject to oversight, including nearly everyone connected to the sport. Failure to report or cooperate in investigations of illegal betting is also considered a violation, with penalties ranging from multi-year bans to lifetime bans from the sport.
September 2, 2024
Tai Tzu-ying’s Last Dance: Battling Injury for a Third Consecutive Title
The Super 300 Chinese Taipei Open will kick off on September 3 at the Taipei Arena, with Tai Tzu-ying as the top seed in the women’s singles, vying for her third consecutive title. Despite nursing an injury, Tai shared her thoughts on Instagram.
Plagued by a knee injury, Tai Tzu-ying withdrew from the semifinals of the Japan Open and did not participate in this week’s Korea Open. According to her schedule, she plans to compete in the Chinese Taipei Open and is also expected to play in the Hong Kong Open. Her coach, Lai Chien-cheng, previously stated that they intend to compete if they have registered, but the final decision will depend on her condition, and participation is not guaranteed.
Today, Tai Tzu-ying posted a photo on her Instagram story with Dr. Lin Ying-chou, expressing her gratitude: “I’ve spent a lot more time in the workshop this past year. Thank you, Dr. Lin, for always taking such good care of me, helping me run and jump on the court as much as possible, and finish these last few matches.”
Regarding next week’s Chinese Taipei Open, Tai Tzu-ying commented, “I don’t want to say too much just yet, but if my condition allows, I’ll be very happy to see everyone on the court next week!”
Tai Tzu-ying has claimed the title at the Chinese Taipei Open in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2023, making her the most decorated women’s singles player in the tournament’s history. This year, she is aiming for her third consecutive title, with her first match expected to be against the world No. 67, 20-year-old Indian player Tanya Hemanth. The two also faced off in last year’s Taipei Open, where Tai won in straight sets.
September 1, 2024
Speculations Arise About the True Relationship Between Arisa Higashino and Yuta Watanabe
Just half a month after Yuta Watanabe announced his marriage, Arisa Higashino also suddenly revealed her marriage on August 28th. The fact that they kept it a secret from each other has left many fans surprised.
Arisa Higashino shared on her social media platform, “…Although it’s a personal matter, I got married today to Yu Igarashi, a former badminton player and current coach from the same company, after dating for five years. We got engaged before the Olympics, and after much discussion, we decided to register our marriage after the Olympics…”
Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino are senior and junior in the same sport, having attended the same school since they were young. They started partnering in junior high and have maintained a strong bond for over 13 years, winning bronze medals at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their close relationship even extended to their families, leading to Japanese media speculating that they might be a couple. Arisa Higashino had also previously expressed admiration for Watanabe in media interviews.
After this year’s Olympics, on August 13th, Yuta Watanabe suddenly revealed on a TV show that he had registered his marriage before the Olympics, leaving Arisa Higashino in shock.
Following this revelation, the duo unexpectedly split, ending their 13-year partnership. Arisa Higashino announced her switch to women’s doubles, while Yuta Watanabe partnered with an 18-year-old rising star.
Now that Arisa Higashino has also announced that she got engaged before the Olympics, almost at the same time as Watanabe’s marriage, but without informing each other, choosing instead to reveal it through the media, fans are understandably shocked. Many are speculating whether their relationship soured behind the scenes or if a breakup before the Olympics led to their split.
Regardless, we wish them both the best in their future lives and hope they continue to bring fans more exciting matches.
September 1, 2024
Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama Speak Out After Withdrawal
Japan’s “most beautiful women’s doubles” pair, Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama, who won the bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, withdrew from the round of 16 in the Super 500 Korea Open yesterday. Today, Chiharu Shida spoke out on social media.
After their Olympic bronze medal victory, Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama immediately began preparing for the Super 750 Japan Open. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure the title at home, losing in the quarterfinals to compatriots Rena Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi with scores of 25-23, 19-21, 18-21.
Following the Japan Open, Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama vowed to give their all at the Korea Open. After receiving a bye in the first round, they faced Taiwan’s Hung En-tzu and Hsieh Pei-shan in the round of 16. However, Chiharu Shida began to feel unwell and withdrew from the match when they were trailing 1-3, allowing Hung En-tzu and Hsieh Pei-shan to advance to the quarterfinals.
Today, Chiharu Shida shared an update on her Instagram story, saying, “Thank you all for your continued support. I decided to withdraw from the Korea Open due to my condition not being suitable for competition. I will now focus on recovering and preparing for the next match.”
After being eliminated in the round of 16 at the Korea Open, Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama are expected to compete in the Super 1000 China Open, starting on September 17.
August 31, 2024
Has Shi Yuqi Lost His Passion? Calls Himself the Weakest World No. 1 and Hopes Younger Players Step Up
The 2024 Korea Open Badminton Championships are underway this week. In the first round, top seed Shi Yuqi, who has been in poor form recently, advanced by defeating former World No. 1 Son Wan-ho 2-0.
In a post-match interview, Shi Yuqi humorously called himself the weakest World No. 1, laughing throughout: “Every day hasn’t been great, I’m pretty tired, and my body doesn’t feel very good. Well, today I challenged the former World No. 1 (Son Wan-ho) as the weakest World No. 1, and I succeeded.”
Earlier this year, leading up to the Paris Olympics, Shi Yuqi was in top form, winning four BWF World Tour titles and overtaking Viktor Axelsen to help China’s men’s singles reclaim the World No. 1 ranking for the first time in eight years. However, at the Paris Olympics, where he was the top seed and a strong favorite to win, Shi Yuqi was completely out of sorts, suffering a crushing defeat, 12-21, 10-21, to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
After the Olympics, Shi Yuqi stated in an interview that he wouldn’t let the Olympics define him and that he would try again.
Last week, at the Japan Open, Shi Yuqi dyed his hair gray, symbolizing his determination to start fresh, but was unexpectedly defeated in the semifinals, losing 1-2 to 19-year-old French rising star Christo Popov.
After the match, Shi Yuqi said, “I hope the younger players get more opportunities to compete.” Clearly, Shi Yuqi is eager for someone to take over the mantle of China’s men’s singles, allowing his weary self to find some relief.
This week at the Korea Open, Shi Yuqi again hinted at his poor physical condition, possibly due to injuries. He even joked about being the weakest World No. 1, indicating that consecutive losses have severely dented his confidence. Additionally, with several of his peers, like Liu Yuchen, He Bingjiao, and Ou Xuanyi, recently choosing to retire, Shi Yuqi’s mindset may have also been affected.
August 30, 2024
Kim Hak-kyun Defends Against An Se Young’s Accusations
Following An Seyoung’s gold medal win in women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, she has accused the Korean national team and the Korean Badminton Association of longstanding unfair practices and outdated customs, even threatening to leave the national team. In response, Korean Badminton Association President Kim Hak-kyun has indicated that they will address An’s concerns.
During an interview on the opening day of the Super 500 Korean Open, Kim Hak-kyun stated that the association would thoroughly discuss An Seyoung’s complaints. He also mentioned the need to eliminate old practices, including those related to national team selection, sponsorship, and contract terms, aiming to make the athletes’ experience within the national team more comfortable.
Kim Hak-kyun highlighted the strict regulations regarding personal sponsorships and contract terms for high school graduates, which include a 7-year contract, a salary cap of 50 million Korean won in the first year, and an annual salary increase not exceeding 7% up to the third year.
Regarding these stringent sponsorship and salary regulations, Kim Hak-kyun noted that any changes would need to align with trends in other sports, stating, “This is not something I can decide alone. We need to reach an agreement with the National Assembly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Sports Council. Once a consensus is reached on system improvements, we will make revisions.”
South Korean media pointed out that Kim Hak-kyun, who comes from a grassroots sports background, claimed that elite sports figures dominate the association’s affairs. “They hold the majority in the board of directors, which has blinded me. My opinions are not adopted during board meetings.”
Kim Hak-kyun defended himself against the label of “incompetent president,” stating that the “elite sports figures” within the association are indifferent to An Seyoung’s concerns and are merely engaging in defamation, insisting that these influential figures should propose concrete solutions.
August 30, 2024
Shi Yuqi: The Pain is Unbearable！
In today’s quarterfinals of the 2024 Korea Open Badminton Championships, men’s singles top seed Shi Yuqi was defeated by Lee Cheuk Yiu with a score of 13-21, 15-21. Meanwhile, Li Shifeng lost to Taipei’s Lee Chia-hao 14-21, 18-21, leaving Lu Guangzu as the only Chinese men’s singles player to advance to the semifinals. Quietly, the burden and expectations of being the next in line to lead China’s men’s singles seem to have spread like a fog.
At his peak, Shi Yuqi was able to compete on par with Lin Dan, Kento Momota, and Viktor Axelsen. However, during the 2019 Indonesia Open, he sprained his ankle in a match against Anders Antonsen. The ankle injury swept through his world like a storm, and the surgery and long recovery journey felt like a trek through a desert, with his performance fluctuating as he searched for a return to form.
Earlier this year, Shi Yuqi seemed to be experiencing a resurgence in his career, winning multiple championships. However, in the Olympic men’s singles quarterfinals, he was defeated 0-2 by Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Li Shifeng, who won the gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games, also performed poorly, being eliminated in the round of 16. This marked the first time since the 2004 Athens Olympics that no Chinese men’s singles player reached the semifinals.
The defeat at the Olympics cast a shadow over Shi Yuqi’s mindset. Last week at the Japan Open, he suffered a shocking loss to French rising star Toma Junior Popov, ranked only 29th in the world, shattering his dream of reaching the semifinals. This week, the quarterfinals once again proved to be an insurmountable barrier, causing his mental balance to collapse entirely, as if lost in a sea of people, with no direction forward.
In an interview after today’s match, Shi Yuqi revealed thoughts of giving up, saying, “My physical condition was really bad today, and I was in a lot of pain. I’ve been enduring this for about four or five years now, and today I just broke down a bit. I don’t want to endure it anymore. After my surgery, I encountered many issues, with new injuries repeatedly appearing. I kept pushing through to play in the Olympics, but my goal wasn’t very clear, and I was quite confused, with my mindset not being in a good place.”
Currently, the Chinese men’s singles team lacks a leading figure. If Shi Yuqi truly decides to give up, the team will face an unprecedented challenge in the near future.
August 30, 2024
Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin Lose to Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi
On August 29th, the second round of the Korean Badminton Open concluded. The Chinese team achieved 9 wins and 7 losses on the day. In a mixed doubles “derby,” rising stars Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi narrowly defeated their world number three teammates, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin, in a deciding game that went to deuce, securing a spot in the quarterfinals.
Mixed doubles is considered China’s strongest event, having won 2 golds and 1 silver in the last two Olympics, and sweeping the top three positions in the latest world rankings, highlighting fierce internal competition. Among them, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin ranked third, had outstanding performances last season, and were highly anticipated in the new Olympic cycle. Last week, they claimed the title at the Super 750 Japan Open, achieving their third consecutive win of the season and rising to third in the world rankings.
Born in 2002, Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi are only a year or two younger than the Jiang-Wei duo. This season, they won one title and one runner-up in a Super 300 event while briefly pairing with other players. After the Olympics, Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi reunited, and although they lost to Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin in the semifinals last week, their world ranking surged to 31st.
In their latest encounter, Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi led throughout the first game, winning 21-17. However, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin equalized with a 21-16 win in the second game. In the deciding game, both young pairs fought fiercely, saving two match points each. Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi seized their third match point opportunity, winning 25-23. Other new Chinese mixed doubles pairs had mixed results: Guo Xinwa and Li Qian advanced with a comeback victory over local players, while Zhou Zhihong and Yang Jiayi narrowly lost and were eliminated.
In other events, the three seeded men’s singles players—Shi Yuqi, Li Shifeng, and Lu Guangzu—progressed smoothly, while Lei Lanxi was reversed by defending champion, Denmark’s Anders Antonsen. In women’s singles, second seed Wang Zhi Yi and third seed Han Yue advanced to the quarterfinals, while eighth seed Zhang Yiman was defeated 0-2 by local favorite Shen Youzhen.
In men’s doubles, Xie Haonan and Zeng Weihang lost 1-2 to local veterans Jin Ki Jung and Kim Ha Rang. Second seeds He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu won in straight games against Chen Baiyang and Liu Yi, advancing to the quarterfinals. In women’s doubles, only one pair remains after two rounds—fifth seeds Li Yijing and Luo Xumin progressed, while seventh seeds Zhang Shuxian and Kong Shuliang were upset by the Chinese Taipei pair Deng Shunxun and Yang Zhuyun.
August 30, 2024