Tag: 2024 Hong Kong Open

Sze Fei-Izzuddin Overcome Early Scare in First Professional Match at Hong Kong Open
There’s been speculation that Chin Eei Hui might step in as the new coach for the independent men’s doubles team of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. However, before making their mark in the second round of the Hong Kong Open, the pair encountered a significant challenge.
In their first tournament since departing from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Goh and Nur Izzuddin were tested thoroughly by Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih and Lee Fang-jen. They managed to secure a hard-fought victory with scores of 21-17, 15-21, 24-22 in a gripping 60-minute match at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon.
The path ahead is unlikely to get any easier for the world No. 12 pair as they prepare to face Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Marthin in their bid for a quarterfinal spot.
Goh and Nur Izzuddin are currently the highest-ranked Malaysian men’s doubles pair competing here, given the absence of world No. 5 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
Although they’ve joined Rosman Razak’s independent coaching team, there’s potential for Eei Hui to come on board as their new coach. Eei Hui recently signed with the same sponsor, Victor, as Goh and Nur Izzuddin.
Previously, Eei Hui coached the independent pair Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi before relocating to New Zealand early last year to lead the North Harbour Club in Auckland.
It remains uncertain if Eei Hui will leave her current role and return to Malaysia to coach Goh and Nur Izzuddin.
In other news, the national pair Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun also advanced to the second round after a comeback win over teammates Yap Roy King and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi with scores of 15-21, 21-8, 21-11.
They will meet China’s Xie Haonan and Zeng Weihan in their next match.
Young talents Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing face a challenging first-round match today against South Korea’s world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae, following their 21-12, 21-19 victory over Canada’s Lan Kan Kern and Larry Pong in the qualifiers.
Nur Izzuddin Rumsani
Goh Sze Fei
September 11, 2024
Justin Hoh 11-Spot Ranking Rise a Boost Ahead of Tough Denmark Test
Justin Hoh, a men’s singles badminton player, received a timely boost ahead of his first-round match against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke at today’s Hong Kong Open, as he climbed 11 places in the latest world rankings to reach No. 57.
Justin’s jump in the rankings is well-deserved after reaching his first-ever World Tour Super 300 quarterfinals at the recent Taiwan Open.
The 20-year-old is now closer to his career-high ranking of No. 48, which he achieved last year before an Achilles injury severely hindered his progress.
Justin recovered from his injury last November after an 8-month break but struggled with foot and knee issues until March when he fully regained fitness.
The young player’s ranking had dropped to No. 233 after his injury, but his hard work and determination have helped him steadily climb back up to his current position.
In May, Justin won the Slovenia Open and then the Saipan International in July, finishing as runner-up at the Northern Mariana Open.
He also earned a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup Finals in Chengdu in May with his teammates, and a month later, he made it to the quarterfinals of the Super 100 Taiwan Masters.
Justin will make his debut at a Super 500 event in Hong Kong, facing a tough challenge against Denmark’s world No. 26, Rasmus Gemke.
Despite a valiant effort, Justin ultimately lost 13-21, 21-19, 13-21 to Gemke, whom he had previously faced in the Thomas Cup group stage.
Meanwhile, independent player Lee Zii Jia also saw a ranking boost, climbing one spot to world No. 3.
The Paris Olympics bronze medalist replaced Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, who fell to No. 7.
The 26-year-old will miss the Hong Kong tournament but is expected to return for the China Open from September 17 to 22.
Leong Jun Hao remains at No. 29 and will make his Hong Kong debut today against local qualifier Chan Yin Chak, while independent player Ng Tze Yong jumped from No. 65 to No. 61 and will face France’s world No. 28, Christo Popov.
HOH Justin
September 11, 2024
Hong Kong Open: Speed and Precision Dominate the Court
Unseeded duo Huang Di and Zhou Hao Dong, playing in only their second tournament together, delivered the most surprising result on Day 1 of the LI-NING Hong Kong Open 2024.
After making it through the qualifiers, the Chinese pair—who were eliminated in the first round of their debut at the Korea Open two weeks ago—shocked top-seeded men’s doubles champions Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen with their fast and aggressive style, winning 21-15, 25-23.
The second game was particularly tense, with both sides exchanging slim leads from 18-all, but Huang and Zhou stayed composed to secure the victory.
Zhou, who had previously partnered with He Ji Ting for two years before teaming up with Tan Qiang at the end of last year, credited their speed as the decisive factor in defeating the world No. 2 pair.
“Our speed gave us the edge,” said Zhou, 26, from Ningbo. “Playing fast is our strength, and we showcased it today.
“Kim and Anders, being top players, had more pressure to deliver a result. For us, the goal was to stay aggressive and push ourselves to beat the best.
“We’re thrilled with this win, but our focus now shifts to preparing for the next round.”
Huang and Zhou will next face Lin Bing Wei and Su Ching Heng from Chinese Taipei.
Elsewhere, Danish men’s doubles teams faced more disappointment. Shortly after, Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard fell 21-14, 21-17 to Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Marthin.
Denmark’s hopes in men’s doubles ended later in the day, when sixth seeds Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard lost a tight match, 15-21, 23-21, 19-21, to Nur Mohd Azryn and Tan Wee Kiong.
Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
Kim Astrup
September 11, 2024
2024 Li-Ning Hong Kong Open: Viktor Axelsen Returns, European Contenders Gather
After a peak summer due to the 2024 Paris Olympics, some of Europe’s top badminton players took a well-deserved break following the intense Olympic qualification period.
However, the season has resumed, and a series of World Tour events in Asia are paving the way for the European leg. It will kick off in October with the YONEX-sponsored CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024, followed by the VICTOR Denmark Open 2024 and the Hylo Open 2024.
Focus on Hong Kong
This week, the spotlight turns to the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open 2024. All eyes are on Viktor Axelsen, who just won his second Olympic gold medal a month ago. After skipping the Japan Open to rest, Axelsen is ready for a strong comeback.
Despite his numerous achievements, he has yet to win the Hong Kong Open title. Tomorrow, he faces local favorite Angus Ng Ka Long in his first match.
Europeans in Action
Viktor Axelsen aims to claim his first Hong Kong Open title, while his Danish teammate Anders Antonsen has opted out of the tournament. After a coaching change, he is focusing on recovery and preparation for the upcoming Super 1000 event in China—where his brother, Kasper Antonsen, will start coaching him in October.
Denmark remains strong, with Mia Blichfeldt, Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt, and Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen all ready to compete.
But Denmark isn’t the only European nation represented in Hong Kong. The Popov brothers from France are also competing in both men’s singles and doubles. Ukrainian players are taking part in the Super 500 tournament as well, with Polina Buhrova competing in women’s singles and doubles, while Yevgeniya Kantemir will team up with Oleksii Titov in mixed doubles.
Matches to Watch Today
With the qualifiers now over, top European players like Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, Rasmus Kjær/Frederik Søgaard, and the Popov brothers have kicked off their first-round matches today.
The 2024 Li-Ning Hong Kong Open runs from today until Sunday, September 15—stay tuned for all the latest updates.
Viktor Axelsen
September 11, 2024
Professional Duo Goh-Izzuddin Go All Out in Hong Kong
Men’s doubles players Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (pictured) will make their debut as an independent pairing tomorrow at the Hong Kong Open, facing a tough challenge ahead.
With world No. 3 pairing Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik absent, world No. 12 Goh and Izzuddin will be Malaysia’s highest-ranked men’s doubles duo in the competition, but their path is fraught with obstacles as they are placed in the top half of the draw.
They could potentially face Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana in the second round, while South Korea’s world champions Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, and Denmark’s world No. 2 Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, could await them in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
Before that, Goh-Izzuddin face a tricky opening match against Taiwan’s world No. 26 duo Lee Fang-Chih and Lee Fang-Jen.
Last month, the Taiwanese pair defeated China’s world No. 7 pair He Jiting/Ren Xiangyu in the first round of the Japan Open, proving they are no pushovers. Goh-Izzuddin, meanwhile, have had a hectic few weeks, winning their biggest title to date at the Super 750 Japan Open and subsequently leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to sign a sponsorship deal with Victor.
The pair are adjusting to their new identity as professional players and hope to make a strong impression in Hong Kong.
A solid performance in Hong Kong could propel Goh-Izzuddin into the world’s top 10.
Nur Izzuddin Rumsani
Goh Sze Fei
September 10, 2024
Hong Kong Open: Tough Start for Christie and Ginting
With the withdrawal of top seed Shi Yuqi, Jonatan Christie faces a challenging start in his title defense at the 2024 Li-Ning Hong Kong Open.
Following the seed withdrawals, Christie is now the top-ranked player in the draw and will face Wang Tzu Wei in the first round. Wang holds a narrow 8-7 lead in their head-to-head encounters, though Christie has won two of their last three matches.
Similarly, Christie’s Indonesian teammate, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, also faces a new opponent—Toma Junior Popov. Six weeks ago, the Frenchman ended Ginting’s 2024 Paris Olympic dream in the group stage.
Last year, Christie became the first Indonesian men’s singles player to stand on the podium since Budi Santoso in 1998.
Withdrawals:
Men’s singles: Li Shi Feng (fourth seed), Lee Chia Hao
Women’s singles: Wang Zhi Yi (second seed), Nozomi Okuhara (eighth seed), Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (second seeds), Choong Hon Jian/Haikal Muhammad (eighth seeds)
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin (fifth seeds), Choong/Go Pei Kee
Promotions:
Men’s singles: Justin Hoh, Cheam June Wei, Jason Gunawan
Women’s singles: Lee Yu-Hsuan, Yu Chien Hui, Pitchamon Opatniputh
Men’s doubles: Huang Di/Zhou Hao Dong, Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang
Mixed doubles: Wang Chi-Lin/Hsu Yin-Hui, Leong Iok Chong/Ng Weng Chi
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting
Jonatan Christie
September 10, 2024
Viktor Axelsen’s First Comeback Post-Olympics
The Hong Kong Open will kick off from September 10 to 15.
According to the BWF draw for the Hong Kong Open (Super 500), Leong Jun Hao is the only Malaysian men’s singles player to directly qualify for the main draw, while Cheam June Wei and independent player Zhen Junwei must participate in the qualifying rounds.
In the qualifying rounds, Cheam June Wei will face Hong Kong’s Chen Yanzhi in the first match. If he progresses through two rounds, he could potentially face Leong Jun Hao in the main draw’s first round. The winner of their match will meet either Singapore’s 8th seed Loh Kean Yew or Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the next round. Other strong opponents in the top half of the draw include top seed Shi Yuqi, Indonesia’s 3rd seed and defending champion Jonatan Christie, and Japan’s 5th seed Kento Nishimoto.
In the bottom half of the draw, Danish second seed Viktor Axelsen makes his comeback post-Olympics, facing Hong Kong’s Angus Ng in the first round and aiming to advance to the quarterfinals, where he could meet Taipei’s 6th seed Chou Tien-chen. Another anticipated quarterfinal clash in the bottom half is expected to be between 4th seed Li Shifeng and Indonesia’s 7th seed Jonatan Christie.
Chou Tien Chen
https://whatbadminton.com/li-shi-feng/
Jonatan Christie
Viktor Axelsen
Shi Yuqi
Lee Cheuk Yiu
LOH Kean Yew
Kodai Naraoka
https://whatbadminton.com/anthony-sinisuka-ginting/
September 9, 2024
Tan Kian Meng and Soh Wooi Yik Withdraw from Hong Kong Open
Due to Soh Wooi Yik‘s recent toe fracture, Tan Kian Meng and Soh Wooi Yik have withdrawn from the Hong Kong Open, which will be held from September 10 to 15.
Malaysian men’s doubles coach Chen Bingsheng revealed the news to Bernama, emphasizing that the decision on whether the world No. 3 men’s doubles pair will return to the court depends on Soh Wooi Yik‘s recovery progress.
Chen stated that the 26-year-old Soh Wooi Yik is currently recovering well but is still unable to participate in high-intensity court training with his partner.
“He had a scan on Tuesday which showed significant improvement. The bone has healed, and the Malaysian Sports Institute (ISN) had previously stated that he needed to wait for new bone growth for recovery. Now that the bone has regrown, he can gradually resume leg movements.”
“He will not participate in the Hong Kong Open. We will continue to monitor his progress this week before deciding whether he will take part in the China Open.”
Chen made this statement to reporters during the Malaysian national badminton team’s training session today. He added that Soh Wooi Yik‘s toe fracture occurred during the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Soh Wooi Yik
Tan Kian Meng
September 9, 2024
Tai Tzu-Ying’s Final Dance in Hong Kong Could Break 41-Year Tournament Record
Tai Tzu-Ying is scheduled to compete in the Hong Kong Open Super 500 series next week, where she could challenge a 41-year record in tournament history if she confirms her participation.
Following the Taipei Open, Tai is expected to join the Hong Kong Open, according to her original plan. However, her coach, Lai Chien-Cheng, mentioned that while they’ve registered for the tournament, the final decision will depend on circumstances, and there’s no guarantee that she will participate. The BWF (Badminton World Federation) requires top-ranked players to compete in at least two 500-level tournaments. For now, Tai has her sights set on the Hong Kong Open, while her participation in the Arctic Open in Finland in October and the Kumamoto Masters in Japan in November will be decided later.
The Hong Kong Open kicks off on the 10th of next week, and the draw was recently announced. With top-ranked players An Se-Young and Chen Yufei absent, third-ranked Tai Tzu-Ying is seeded first in the women’s singles category. If she competes, this will be her first appearance in a 500-level event this season, facing a qualifier in the first round.
Hong Kong has been a lucky venue for Tai Tzu-Ying, where she claimed titles in 2014, 2016, and 2017. This ties her with legends Han Aiping, Xie Xingfang, and Bang Soo-hyun for the most women’s singles titles in the tournament’s history. If she wins again in her final dance this year, Tai will become the first player to secure four women’s singles championships since the tournament’s inception in 1982.
September 6, 2024