Tag: 2024 China Badminton Open

Is Chen Qingchen Considering Retirement?
With Chen Qingchen on an extended break, Jia Yifan has teamed up with Li Wenmei, Zheng Yu, and Zhang Shuxian in recent international tournaments. However, in a recent interview, Jia revealed that while adapting to her new partners, she encountered various challenges. Deep down, she longs to reunite with Chen Qingchen.
Both Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, born in 1997, are often known as the “comedy duo” and “inspirational sisters” of the Chinese badminton team. After every match, their optimistic and cheerful attitudes always leave a positive impression on everyone. On the court, their resilience and fighting spirit, especially their ability to turn the tide in tough matches, consistently inspire fans.
Despite their playful off-court image, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan’s abilities are formidable. They held the world No. 1 ranking for 93 consecutive weeks, won four World Championship titles, and went from earning an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo to clinching Olympic gold in Paris. After ten years of partnership, they achieved their long-awaited Grand Slam dream, becoming one of the greatest women’s doubles teams in Chinese badminton history. During the Paris Olympics medal ceremony, Jia Yifan took off a ring from her own hand and placed it on Chen Qingchen’s finger, and the two made a “10” gesture together, symbolizing their decade-long journey.
However, behind the scenes of that Olympic gold medal lay countless injuries and hardships. At one point, Chen Qingchen even contemplated retiring.
In 2022, Chen Qingchen almost retired due to a severe injury to her left foot. “It was May 2022. My left foot had been in a constant state of sprain from intense training, which caused the bones to protrude, making it impossible for me to run on the court. It was the first time I had faced such a serious injury, to the point where I couldn’t even complete training,” Chen recalled. The doctors told her she needed surgery, and if not, her only other option would be to retire.
Just a month before the 2024 Paris Olympics, sudden injuries once again tested their Olympic preparation. Jia Yifan was hospitalized with a persistent high fever, leaving Chen Qingchen to train alone. “That was the toughest time for me mentally. The pressure was enormous. I thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I experienced many negative emotions and behaviors. I would cry alone in the corner and nearly broke down.” When Jia finally recovered, it was Chen Qingchen’s turn to face an injury. She suffered a calf strain during an Olympic simulation match, so severe that she couldn’t even move for days, leaving her in tears again.
On October 2, Chen Qingchen participated in a land dragon boat drumming experience in Foshan, Guangdong.
After realizing their Olympic dream in Paris, the duo’s ten-year journey to Olympic victory was complete. Chen Qingchen chose to take a break, returning to her hometown in Guangdong to engage in various social activities, and has yet to return to competition. “After such a long preparation cycle, I felt mentally and physically exhausted. I hold myself to very high standards. If I’m not in great physical condition for future challenges, I might choose to take a break and then make further plans,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jia Yifan has been trying out partnerships with Li Wenmei, Zheng Yu, and Zhang Shuxian, but she has faced various difficulties in adjusting to the new pairings, with unsatisfactory results. Thus, she still longs to reunite with Chen Qingchen. “I hope to continue partnering with Chen Qingchen, but everyone has different life choices. If there’s an opportunity, I would love to play with her again. Our goal is to compete in the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou at the end of the year. As for what happens next, we’ll see what the future holds,” Jia concluded.
October 8, 2024
Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang missed the quarterfinals
On September 19, 2024, the second round of the China Badminton Open began. After taking a break following the Olympics, China’s men’s doubles pair Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang were defeated 1-2 by Indonesia’s Fikri/Maulana, missing out on a spot in the quarterfinals. The three-game match ended with scores of 19-21, 21-18, 17-21.
After the match, they said that they always aim to win every game on court, but their current form is not sufficient to achieve that. After the Olympics, transitioning from a state of high tension to relaxation, and now starting over, takes time, and they need to rebuild step by step. Despite the external attention, they emphasized that when it comes to playing, it’s the two of them on the court, so focusing on themselves is what matters most.
Muhammad Shohibul FIKRI
Bagas MAULANA
Wang Chang
Liang Wei Keng
September 20, 2024
Coach Shakes His Head: Is Shi Yuqi’s Body or Mind Injured?
Facing his former rival Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Shi Yuqi suffered a crushing defeat, losing 11-21, 9-21, and ending his journey at the China Open early. In the men’s singles round of 16 on September 19, world No. 1 Shi Yuqi still appeared passive in his performance.
Once upon a time, Shi Yuqi had dominated Ginting, winning 11 of their previous 13 matches. However, this latest defeat marks his third loss to Ginting since his return in 2022. After making his comeback at the World Championships in 2022, Shi Yuqi lost to Ginting in a grueling three-game battle. He was again defeated in the group stage of last year’s BWF World Tour Finals, where Ginting made a comeback. Compared to those matches, this time, Shi Yuqi was dispatched in just 27 minutes, with even his coach Sun Jun, who has trained him since childhood, shaking his head in disbelief from the sidelines.
When he was trailing 3-15 in the second game, Shi Yuqi requested a medical timeout to treat injuries to his left foot and back.
Since his disappointing quarterfinal finish at the Paris Olympics, Shi Yuqi has repeatedly expressed negative emotions. After defeating former world No. 1 Son Wan Ho at the Korea Open, he jokingly remarked, “I, the weakest world No. 1, have finally beaten him today.” When asked about his newly dyed hair, he responded, “I used to be afraid of perming it, but now that I’m close to retirement, why not change it up?” After winning his first-round match at the China Open, he couldn’t help but complain, “I didn’t perform well at the Olympics, so now I’m working overtime. The ones who played well are attending concerts, while I’m stuck here.”
After his second-round elimination, Shi Yuqi, who often speaks sarcastically, commented, “Today’s result was caused by both mental and physical injuries. I think I played pretty well.”
Having competed in three tournaments since the Olympics, Shi Yuqi has expressed confusion about how to change his current situation. He also thanked fans who urged him to rest, saying, “I’m also thinking about whether I should continue or if this is enough.” In the short term, however, Shi Yuqi still has a goal: to qualify for the year-end BWF World Tour Finals. “I need to participate in at least two more tournaments to secure enough points,” he said.
The year-end BWF World Tour Finals, held in Hangzhou, is the last tournament of the season. According to the rules, the top eight players from each discipline, based on their best 14 tournament results, will qualify for the finals, with a maximum of two players (or pairs) per association. Shi Yuqi, currently ranked world No. 1, is fighting for more ranking points.
In this tournament, China’s top three male singles players (Shi Yuqi, Li Shifeng, and Lu Guangzu) were all eliminated early, while Weng Hongyang and Lei Lanxi performed admirably. Weng Hongyang, who defeated Lee Cheuk Yiu in the first round, came from behind to beat Chou Tien Chen 20-22, 21-18, 21-15 in the second round. Lei Lanxi, who previously knocked out Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, comfortably defeated Kenta Nishimoto 21-8, 21-17.
Additionally, the highly anticipated men’s doubles pair Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang were defeated 19-21, 21-18, 17-21 by Fikri/Maulana, falling short of reaching the quarterfinals.
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting
Shi Yuqi
September 20, 2024
China Open: Stars Returning to Paris Face Mixed Fortunes
On the first day of the 2024 VICTOR China Open in Changzhou, the performances of Paris 2024 men’s singles silver and bronze medalists, Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Lee Zii Jia, were strikingly different.
After winning Thailand’s first-ever badminton medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Vitidsarn took a full month off and was unsure about his performance in his first HSBC BWF World Tour match.
“I didn’t come here with the intention to win. I’m here to learn and take it step by step. So, I’m pleased to have won my first match back,” he said.
Despite a slow start, which gave him time to adjust to the fast and unpredictable conditions, the defending world champion overcame Su Li Yang in a tough three-game match with scores of 20-22, 21-14, 21-15.
“I played well today because the shuttlecock was fast and difficult to control. The pressure from the Olympics was significant, but I aim to perform my best in every match, as qualifying for the BWF World Tour Finals is very important to me,” he added.
On the other hand, Lee Zii Jia expressed his frustration, stating he is still struggling with some physical issues. He lost to Japanese player Koki Watanabe with scores of 15-21, 2-21.
Lee discussed the situation with coach Huang Da Ming.
“Post-Olympics, my body has been in a strange condition. I’ve had many injuries, but I don’t know why. I seem unable to fully recover, but things are improving,” Lee said.
“When I train with a certain intensity, I feel sore all over. My elbows and knees ache, and my back has become stiff.”
“I need to resolve these issues because I must be in top condition to qualify for the World Tour Finals.”
The Malaysian player made a comeback in August at the 2024 Daihatsu Japan Open, where he lost in the first round to eventual champion Alex Lanier. He announced his withdrawal from the Korea and Hong Kong tournaments to prioritize his health.
Now, he will take similar steps, returning to Kuala Lumpur to reassess his condition and prepare for the 2024 Yonex Royal Arctic Open in Finland next month.
“My condition is not yet optimal, and I need to keep working to reach my best form.”
Kunlavut VITIDSARN
Lee Zii Jia
Alex LANIER
September 19, 2024
Guo Xinwa apologizes after first-round exit: “I let everyone down”
Guo Xinwa recently finished as runner-up at the Korea Open with Li Qian. However, this week at the 2024 China Badminton Open, he partnered with Chen Fanghui. Unfortunately, the duo lost 1-2 to the Danish pair Mads/Boje in the first round.
After the match, Guo Xinwa posted an apology: “The Changzhou Open ended today, and I’m sorry I couldn’t win the match and disappointed everyone. I really wanted to perform well in front of my home crowd and deliver an exciting match, but I have to accept the loss, regroup, and prepare for the upcoming tournaments. Thank you to everyone who came to cheer for me at the venue and for those who continue to support me. I wish everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”
September 19, 2024
Lei Lanxi Upsets Axelsen, Li Shifeng Exits Early
On September 18, in the first round of the 2024 China Badminton Open, Lei Lanxi avenged his loss in last week’s Hong Kong Open final by defeating Viktor Axelsen in a surprise 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 21-16) victory.
Axelsen’s travel was delayed due to a typhoon passing through Changzhou, and his flight was postponed. He only arrived in Changzhou at 8 p.m. last night and didn’t have time for warm-up training. After the match, Axelsen admitted the external factors affected him: “Because of the typhoon, I didn’t arrive in Changzhou until 8 p.m. yesterday, and I felt a bit fatigued. But I must admit that my opponent played very well today. Congratulations to him on the victory.”
Lei Lanxi attributed his win to his fighting spirit: “This time I was faster than the last match, and with the strong winds in Changzhou, I dared to push the pace and make breakthroughs. The key was fighting for every point and never giving up on any rally.”
In other Chinese men’s singles results, Shi Yuqi advanced with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-19) win over Wang Tzu Wei. Meanwhile, Lu Guangzu lost a close 1-2 (22-24, 21-11, 18-21) match to Li Jiahao, and 4th seed Li Shifeng continued his poor form, losing 0-2 (17-21, 18-21) to Chou Tien Chen. Both Lu and Li were knocked out in the first round.
Li Shifeng noted that although the scores were close, Chou’s aggressive style put him under pressure. Li had opportunities after 11 points but made several critical mistakes, which affected his mentality. After struggling for over half a year, Li hopes to regain his confidence in this new Olympic cycle.
With Viktor Axelsen’s surprising exit and top seed Shi Yuqi still recovering from injury, the men’s singles competition has become more open. Players like Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Anders Antonsen, and Jonatan Christie all have opportunities to claim the title.
Viktor Axelsen
Lei Lan Xi
September 19, 2024
2024 China Badminton Open: Li Shifeng Exits Early Again
On September 18, in the first round of the 2024 China Badminton Open, 4th seed Li Shifeng continued his poor form, losing 0-2 (17-21, 18-21) to Chou Tien Chen, suffering another early exit.
In the BWF men’s singles rankings, Li Shifeng is ranked 4th, while veteran Chou Tien Chen is 9th. In this new Los Angeles Olympic cycle, Li Shifeng’s first home tournament ended in a first-round exit, undoubtedly leaving him disappointed.
In the first game, the two were tied at 15-15 after a close start, but Li Shifeng made several unforced errors, allowing Chou to pull ahead 18-15. At this point, Li’s nerves got the better of him, leading to consecutive mistakes, and he lost the game 17-21.
In the second game, Chou came out strong, leading 9-1 and 12-2. Li Shifeng fought back to 15-15 and later to 18-18, but unfortunately, Chou was more confident in the critical points, and Li eventually lost the match.
Although the two games were close, Li Shifeng admitted afterward that Chou’s aggressive style put him on the defensive. He had chances to come back after 11 points but made too many mistakes during key moments, affecting his mentality. Li Shifeng has been struggling with poor results for more than half a year and hopes to regain his confidence in this new Olympic cycle.
Li Shi Feng
Chou Tien Chen
September 19, 2024
Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin advance to quarterfinals after one match
After two days of matches, the round of 16 has been determined for all events at the 2024 China Badminton Open. Both the men’s and women’s singles saw several upsets, with two former world No. 1 players being eliminated in the first round, and six seeded players failing to advance. The doubles events faced an awkward situation with 12 byes and four withdrawals.
In men’s singles, the former world No. 1 eliminated was Viktor Axelsen, who lost after a tough 3-game match to Chinese youngster Lei Lanxi, 19-21, 21-17, 16-21. Besides second seed Axelsen’s early exit, fourth seed Li Shifeng of China lost 17-21, 18-21 to Taiwanese veteran Chou Tien Chen, failing to make it to the round of 16. Third seed Lee Zii Jia suffered his most humiliating defeat, losing 15-21, 2-21 to Japan’s Koki Watanabe, marking the lowest score in China Open history and Lee’s personal lowest in recent years.
In women’s singles, Tai Tzu Ying was the player eliminated. She battled Denmark’s Line Christophersen in a three-game thriller but ultimately lost 14-21, 21-7, 19-21. With this first-round exit, Tai’s hopes of reaching the World Tour Finals are now in serious jeopardy.
The mixed doubles category saw a significant number of withdrawals, leading to an unusual situation. After Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin won 21-19, 21-13 against Chiu Hsiang Chieh/Lin Zhi Yun, they automatically advanced to the quarterfinals due to a lack of opponents, having only played one match. The mixed doubles event saw four first-round byes and three withdrawals, while the women’s doubles had an astonishing eight byes and one withdrawal. It’s hard to believe this is happening in a top-tier BWF World Tour 1000 event. The reason behind this is the reorganization of women’s and mixed doubles pairs by many teams.
Jiang Zhen Bang
Wei Ya Xin
Viktor Axelsen
Tai Tzu Ying
Lei Lan Xi
September 19, 2024
Viktor Axelsen Penalized for Signature Swaying Serve!
In the first round of the 2024 China Badminton Open men’s singles yesterday, Viktor Axelsen faced Lei Lanxi. Right at the start, Axelsen showcased his signature swaying serve. However, the referee wasn’t lenient this time and immediately penalized him a point.
It’s well known that Axelsen often sways side to side during his serve, something that has irritated many players.
Last week, during the quarterfinals of the 2024 Hong Kong Badminton Open, Axelsen played against Chou Tien Chen. At 11-13 in the second game, Chou mimicked Axelsen’s serve by dramatically swaying side to side and pausing for two seconds before serving, showing his discontent.
Although the Badminton World Federation (BWF) doesn’t have specific rules about serve duration, referees have discretionary power. In this match, Irish referee Mois Halpin clearly didn’t want to indulge Axelsen. According to Danish media reports, this is the first time Axelsen’s signature serve has been penalized.
Axelsen immediately approached the referee to argue, to which Halpin responded, “Your serve took too long!”
Axelsen’s serve this time took 4 seconds, which led to the penalty. In the past, his serves had sometimes taken even longer without penalties. This time, even Danish media outlet TV2 didn’t side with Axelsen, with a badminton commentator pointing out that Axelsen had been pushing the limits of the rules for a long time. The BWF seems keen to crack down on such serving behaviors, and the referee’s decision serves as a warning to Axelsen that this issue is now on their radar.
After losing the point due to his serve at the beginning, Axelsen noticeably sped up his serves for the rest of the match.
Chou Tien Chen
Viktor Axelsen
Lei Lan Xi
September 19, 2024
2024 China Open Historical Data
The final Super 1000 event of the season—the 2024 China Open—is underway. Let’s take a look at some of the past data from this tournament!
There are a total of 10 former champions competing in this year’s event.
One of them is Lee So-hee, who, alongside former partner Chang Ye-na, is one of only two non-Chinese pairs to have won the women’s doubles title in the past 32 years. The other pair is Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi.
Among the players participating in this year’s tournament, only Lee So-hee and the men’s doubles pair Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang have previously won the title as top seeds.
In 1995, the duo Huang Zhanzhong and Jiang Xin successfully defended their men’s doubles title. This year, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang hope to follow in their footsteps and defend their title.
Men’s doubles is also the event where China has the fewest number of titles, with Indonesia holding the advantage in this category.
Men’s singles top seed Shi Yuqi is eager to make it to the finals; his best performance so far has been reaching the semifinals.
China is experiencing a title drought in the women’s singles category, with the last champion being Li Xuerui in 2015. Wang Zhiyi and Han Yue are strong contenders to break that streak this year.
If Viktor Axelsen wins this year, he will become the first European men’s singles player to defend the title.
Five teams have earned seed spots in events they have never won before—Thailand (men’s singles), Indonesia (women’s singles), Chinese Taipei (women’s singles and men’s doubles), Malaysia (women’s doubles), and Hong Kong (mixed doubles).
Viktor Axelsen
Lee So Hee
Wang Chang
Liang Wei Keng
September 18, 2024
Shi Yuqi advances to round of 16, Liang/Wang duo wins first match
The China Badminton Open kicked off on the 17th in Changzhou, Jiangsu. China’s men’s singles player Shi Yuqi successfully advanced to the Round of 16, while China’s top men’s doubles pair, the Liang/Wang duo, won 2-0 against the Popov brothers from France to move into the next round.
After the Paris Olympics, Shi Yuqi currently ranked No. 1 in the men’s singles world rankings, showed some fluctuations in form. In the previous Japan and Korea Opens, he reached the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. As the top seed in this event, much is expected of this Chinese men’s singles star.
In the first round, Shi faced Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, a player he had met six times before. Shi easily won the first game 21-10. In the second game, Wangcharoen adapted to Shi’s shot variations and managed to level the score and even take the lead at times. However, Shi Yuqi’s composure in crucial moments secured a 21-19 victory, advancing him to the second round.
In men’s doubles, the highly anticipated Chinese “Liang/Wang duo” of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang made their post-Olympic debut. Facing the Popov brothers from France in the first round, the duo saved two game points in the first set to win 22-20. In the second set, they found their rhythm in serves and returns, winning comfortably 21-16.
Other Chinese players also had strong starts on the first day. Wang Zhiyi defeated Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt 2-0 to reach the Round of 16, while mixed doubles pair Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi and women’s doubles duo Li Wenmei/Zhang Shuxian also advanced after defeating their respective opponents.
This China Open is the first BWF World Tour Super 1000 event since the Paris Olympics and has attracted over 200 top athletes from around the world. Some notable absences include China’s top women’s singles player, Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei, Paris Olympic mixed doubles champions Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, and Korea’s women’s singles champion from Paris, An Se Young.
Chen Yu Fei
Liang Wei Keng
Shi Yuqi
Wang Chang
September 18, 2024
China Open Kicks Off on Mid-Autumn Festival!
The final Super 1000 event of the 2024 BWF World Tour, the China Open, will kick off on September 17 in Changzhou, Jiangsu, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival. According to the latest information from the Chinese Badminton Association on September 16, and the draw released by the event organizers, China’s top women’s singles player and Tokyo Olympic champion, Chen Yufei, as well as Paris Olympic mixed doubles champions, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, will not be participating in this tournament. While fans may be disappointed by their absence, China’s objective remains unchanged: to achieve strong results in all five events, reach the finals in each, and secure as many titles as possible on home soil.
Following the Thomas and Uber Cup, this is the second top-level badminton event held in China this year, and the last Super 1000 event of the 2024 BWF World Tour. The China Open has attracted more than 200 top athletes from 21 countries and regions, with a total prize pool of $2 million, and increased ranking points. Unfortunately, the Chinese Badminton Association’s latest entry list, released on September 16, confirms that newly crowned Olympic mixed doubles champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong will not participate, despite being listed as the top seeds on the initial draw just last week. Additionally, China’s top women’s singles player, Chen Yufei, will also be absent. Reports had suggested she would return at the China Open, but she has opted to protect her ranking after the Paris Olympics, and her participation was never confirmed. It is now official that Chen Yufei will continue to stay off the court.
Despite these absences, China is still sending a strong lineup, determined to perform well at this important home tournament.
China’s men’s singles players are led by Paris Olympic participants Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng, with Lu Guangzu, Weng Hongyang, and Lei Lanxi also competing. On the international front, nearly all the world’s top players have arrived in Changzhou, including Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalists Viktor Axelsen, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and Lee Zii Jia, as well as Kento Momota, Chou Tien-Chen, and others. It will be a tough battle for China to secure the men’s singles title.
In women’s singles, China’s Wang Zhiyi, Han Yue, Zhang Yiman, and Gao Fangjie are all placed in the top half of the draw, which is not an ideal situation. The top two seeds are Paris Olympic champion An Se-Young and Chinese Taipei’s veteran Tai Tzu-Ying, with Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi also in the mix. Apart from the injured Spanish player Carolina Marín and Chen Yufei, almost all of the world’s top female players are present.
In men’s doubles, all eyes are on the much-anticipated return of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, the Paris Olympic silver medalists. The duo had missed the Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong Opens after the Olympics but are back on the court for this event, bolstering China’s hopes of claiming the men’s doubles title. They are also the reigning champions of this event and are aiming to defend their title. China’s other men’s doubles pairs include Xie Haonan/Zeng Weihang and Chen Boyang/Liu Yi.
In women’s doubles, the biggest change for China is the new pairing of Paris Olympic champion Jia Yifan with Zheng Yu. They are seeded fifth in this tournament, while Chen Qingchen is temporarily away from the team and will miss the event. On the morning of September 16, Jia Yifan and Zheng Yu began training to adapt to the court, and although this is their first time partnering, they are expected to improve their coordination as they go. Paris Olympic silver medalists Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning and the Chinese pair Li Yijing/Luo Xumin are also in the bottom half of the women’s doubles draw. Japan’s popular duo Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama, bronze medalists at the Paris Olympics, will also be competing.
In mixed doubles, despite the absence of Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, China still has a strong chance of winning this event. The team’s second pair, Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping, the newly crowned Hong Kong Open champions Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin, as well as Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui and Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi, all have great potential to contend for the title.
Lei Lan Xi
Zhang Chi
Wang Chang
September 18, 2024