Tag: Christo Popov

Arctic Open Title Defense a Tough Task for Lee Zii Jia in Finland
Lee Zii Jia is set to defend his Arctic Open title, but the men’s singles player faces a challenging path in the tournament starting today.
After winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Zii Jia finds himself in a tough section of the draw. His competition includes world No. 3 Anders Antonsen from Denmark, world No. 9 Anthony Ginting from Indonesia, and world No. 10 Chou Tien-chen from Taiwan.
In the opening round, Zii Jia will face world No. 27 Christo Popov from France. Although a tough opponent, Zii Jia has beaten him once before at the 2022 German Open, giving him a slight advantage.
If Zii Jia wins the first match, his likely second-round opponent will be China’s rising star, world No. 22 Lei Lanxi. He could then meet Anthony Ginting, Lu Guangzu, or Koki Watanabe in the quarterfinals.
Last year, Zii Jia won the Arctic Open by defeating fellow Malaysian Ng Tze Yong. Another Malaysian, Leong Jun Hao, will begin his campaign today against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Jun Hao is hoping for a better outcome after a tight three-game loss to Cheuk Yiu in the Hong Kong Open last month, where he led in the deciding game but couldn’t seal the victory.
In men’s doubles, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik return after Wooi Yik recovered from a toe injury that kept them out since their bronze win in Paris. They will face China’s world No. 21 pair Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in the first round.
Other Malaysian men’s doubles teams participating include Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, and Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, who recently won the Hong Kong Open, will be the only Malaysian representatives.
Lee Zii Jia
October 9, 2024
Wang Chang: Training Every Day
On the evening of September 22, the six-day China Badminton Open officially concluded, with the Chinese badminton team achieving four golds and two silvers.
Wang Chang from Zhejiang shared his thoughts on social media, summarizing the tournament. He expressed that both he and his partner always aim to win every match, but finishing healthily is no small feat. For fans concerned about the state of the Liang/Wang duo, he reassured them, saying, “Don’t rush us, we’re training every day.” This quickly became a trending topic.
Wang Chang posted the following message:
“Firstly, the China Open has ended, and I have a few reflections to share with everyone.
In our current state, we also hope to win every match. Finishing healthily is not just something we say. From the veterans to more recent players like Chen Long, Fu Haifeng, and Zhang Nan, many have played through injuries and kept fighting. They are all heroes, true heroes who have brought glory to the nation! Injuries are something every professional athlete deals with to some extent. All we can do is give our best effort to overcome them, which is a reflection of the sporting spirit.
Secondly, within the team, we dedicate ourselves to serving communism, following the team’s guidance and leadership, promoting sports and badminton. We hope to bring more people to love the sport, just like how many were inspired by Lin Dan, the Cai/Fu duo, and Chen Long to take up badminton. Lastly, for those asking about my routine, yes, I’ve been delayed for two rounds, but I’m back to regular training starting tomorrow (even when there’s no match, we’re still training every day, don’t rush us, don’t rush us, we train every day).”
The China Badminton Open was the first official tournament for the Liang/Wang duo after the Paris Olympics. After returning to China, they participated in various award ceremonies and interviews, as their popularity surged. Although they continued to train even during variety show appearances, it was more sporadic and lacked the systematic approach they had before.
The saying goes, “Skip one day of training, you notice; skip two, the coach notices; skip three, the whole team knows.” Before the China Open, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang set their goal as “finishing healthily,” given their recent assessment of insufficient training. They first defeated the Popov brothers 2-0 to reach the round of 16, but then fell 1-2 (19-21, 21-18, 17-21) to Indonesia’s Fikri/Maulana, failing to reach the quarterfinals, which underscored their earlier concerns.
However, competitive sports are always judged by results. After their second-round exit, there was plenty of online criticism that the Liang/Wang duo was distracted by variety shows and business events. Wang Chang’s long post on social media serves as a response, gently reminding everyone that he is fully aware of the situation—”Don’t rush us, we’re training every day”—while also hinting that active athletes attending events help promote the sport of badminton.
Wang Chang
Liang Wei Keng
Lin Dan
September 29, 2024
European players face major challenges at 2024 China Open
The 2024 VICTOR China Open has kicked off, and the first-round matches were fiercely contested.
French player Christo Popov fought hard in an intense match against Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei, dragging the game into three sets but ultimately losing with a score of 14-21, 21-12, 19-21. Both Christo and his brother Toma Junior Popov also exited early in the men’s doubles event.
Other European players, such as Mia Blichfeldt from Denmark and the Ukrainian pair Oleksii Titov and Yevheniia Kantemyr, also saw their Super 1000 campaigns end prematurely.
Thankfully, there were some uplifting victories during the day. Danish player Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt, who had a strong run in last week’s Hong Kong quarterfinals, opened her China campaign with a comfortable win.
In the doubles events, European players secured a few wins; England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy battled through three sets to defeat Malaysia’s Low Hang Yee and Ng Eng Cheong 18-21, 21-19, 21-15. Likewise, Denmark’s Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch, as well as 8th seeds Rasmus Kjær and Frederik Søgaard, secured victories alongside Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr.
Toma Junior POPOV
Wang Tzu Wei
Christo POPOV
September 19, 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
Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang Win First Match After Olympics
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the BWF Super 1000 China Open kicked off in Changzhou. Popular Olympic men’s doubles silver medalists Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang made their debut on the first day of the tournament, defeating the Popov brothers from France with scores of 22-20, 21-16, marking their first victory since the Paris Olympics.
Since the men’s doubles final on August 4, the duo “Liang–Wang” has been off the court for over a month, but their interactions off the court have become a hot topic. Liang Weikeng visited Universal Studios, Wang Chang attended a Jony J concert, and the duo recorded an episode of the Hunan TV variety show Hello Saturday and even climbed Mount Huangshan together. Their humorous antics off the court, combined with their strong chemistry on the court, have made this post-2000s pair quickly gain popularity after the Olympics, winning the hearts of many new fans.
In the post-match interview, Wang Chang and Liang Weikeng joked with each other, with the playful Wang even grabbing the reporter’s mic and asking, “You guys probably want to know why Liang Weikeng didn’t gain weight after not touching a racket for a month?” Liang Weikeng responded, “I still went to the gym every day to maintain my strength!”
Despite not competing for over a month, the pair never slacked in their training. “This month was packed with both competitions and activities, but we squeezed in training whenever possible to avoid falling behind,” Wang Chang shared. Liang Weikeng noted that while they reflected on their previous experiences during this period, they also engaged in various off-court activities, which has helped improve their performance. “I feel like my vision on the court has broadened. Before the Olympics, when we were under pressure, we might not have been as flexible in our play. We’re gradually adapting,” Liang Weikeng added.
Liang Wei Keng
Toma Junior POPOV
Christo POPOV
Wang Chang
September 18, 2024
Axelsen Aims for Another Triumph Post-Olympics Success
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen is set to make a highly anticipated return to the men’s singles competition at the Hong Kong Open, which kicks off today.
This will be Axelsen’s first tournament appearance since his triumph at the Paris Olympics, where he successfully defended his gold medal last month.
The world No. 2 has been sharing clips of his training in Hong Kong on social media.
“Finally here in Hong Kong! Feels good to be back,” posted Axelsen, who seemed full of energy while practicing his shots on court.
Axelsen aims to keep up his winning momentum, having already secured his first World Tour title of the year at the Malaysian Masters in May.
Despite a few challenging tournaments before the Olympics, Axelsen once again proved his championship mettle by dominating Thailand’s world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-11, 21-11 in the final to clinch his second Olympic gold.
On his way to the title, Axelsen also comfortably dispatched Singapore’s 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew and India’s 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lakshya Sen.
The 30-year-old became the second men’s singles player to defend his Olympic title, following China’s Lin Dan, who accomplished this feat in 2008 and 2012.
Axelsen has not ruled out competing for a record-breaking third gold in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if he can maintain his fitness and form.
In Hong Kong, Axelsen finds himself in the lower half of the draw, with a tricky first-round match against local star Angus Ng Ka Long.
Other top 10 contenders in the same half include Taiwan’s world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen and Indonesia’s world No. 10 Anthony Ginting. A potential quarter-final against Tien-chen and a semi-final clash with Ginting could be in the cards for Axelsen.
With China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi withdrawing from the tournament, the top half of the draw is more open, giving Indonesia’s world No. 3 Jonatan Christie and Japan’s world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka a clearer path to the final.
In the absence of Malaysia’s world No. 4 Lee Zii Jia, world No. 29 Leong Jun Hao will carry his country’s hopes. Jun Hao begins his campaign against a qualifier, with a second-round match against China’s Lu Guangzu or Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu awaiting him.
Two other Malaysians, Justin Hoh and independent player Cheam June Wei, have also made it to the main draw from the qualifiers. Justin, making his Super 500 debut, will face Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the opening round, while June Wei is set to meet Frenchman Christo Popov.
September 12, 2024
Justin Battles Gemke in a Thrilling Match at Hong Kong Open, Then Bows Out
Malaysian men’s singles player Justin Hoh (pictured) fought valiantly in his first-round match against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke at the Hong Kong Open yesterday, but was ultimately eliminated.
Justin, whose world ranking recently climbed to No. 57, did not make it easy for the world No. 26 Gemke. The match at the Hong Kong Coliseum stretched for an hour and 10 minutes, with Justin eventually falling 7-21, 23-21, 18-21.
This marked the second time the 20-year-old Justin has faced Gemke, with both encounters ending in defeats. Their clash in the Thomas Cup group stage earlier this year was also a marathon, lasting 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Justin’s ranking has risen rapidly after reaching the quarterfinals of the Super 300 Taiwan Open on the World Tour recently.
Also exiting in the first round was Ng Tze Yong, who lost 19-21, 10-21 to France’s Christo Popov.
In mixed doubles, Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie advanced to the second round after a swift 27-minute victory, defeating South Korea’s Ko Sung Hyun and Eom Hye Won 21-11, 21-14.
The Malaysian pair, ranked No. 12 in the world, will face India’s Sumit Reddy and Sikki Reddy in today’s second round.
Joining them in the mixed doubles bracket are Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin, who beat Singapore’s Terry Hee and Jessica Tan 21-17, 21-16, while Yap Roy King and Valeree Siow also progressed with a 21-11, 21-16 win over Hong Kong’s Deng Chi Fai and Leung Yuet Yee.
However, veteran mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon and Lai Pei Jing were eliminated after a 21-18, 14-21, 11-21 loss to China’s Cheng Xingzhang and Zhang Xingzhang.
In men’s doubles, national players Lin Zhi Jian and Wong Tien Ci came from behind to defeat Taiwan’s Liu Kuan Heng and Yang Po Han 13-21, 21-14, 21-16.
They will face third-seeded Korean duo Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, who defeated Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-12, 21-17. Women’s singles player Goh Jin Wei also ended her campaign in the first round, losing 7-21, 22-24 to South Korea’s Kim Ga Eun.
HOH Justin
September 12, 2024
Mixed Results for European Players at 2024 Hong Kong Open
The opening two days of the 2024 LI-NING Hong Kong Open have been full of ups and downs for European badminton players.
Day one saw an unexpected early exit from top-seeded pair Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. On the second day, European athletes experienced a similar blend of successes and setbacks.
While Christo Popov, Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt, Rasmus Gemke, Mads Vestergaard/Christine Busch, and Viktor Axelsen progressed to the Round of 16, notable players like Toma Junior Popov and Mia Blichfeldt were knocked out of the competition.
Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
Kim Astrup
Viktor Axelsen
September 12, 2024
Christo POPOV
Character Introduction
Christo Popov (French: Christo Popov, born March 8, 2002) is a French male badminton player.
In April 2017, Popov represented France at the European Youth Badminton Championships held in Milu, where he helped the host French team win the team championship.
In August 2018, Popov, along with his brother Toma Junior Popov, won his first senior international title in men’s doubles at the Bulgarian Badminton Open by defeating Chen You-Lin and Lin Bing-Wei of Chinese Taipei 2-1 (17-21, 21-7, 21-17) in the final. In September of the same year, he represented France at the European Youth Badminton Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, where he helped the French team win the mixed team title again. Additionally, he won a silver medal in men’s singles, losing 0-2 (7-21, 14-21) to the second seed and teammate Arnaud Merkle in the final.
In October 2019, Popov reached the semi-finals at the World Youth Badminton Championships, becoming the first French player to medal at the event. He ultimately lost 0-2 (8-21, 11-21) to Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who was seeking a third consecutive title, and finished as the runner-up.
Equipment Used
ASTROX 99 PRO；75TH 65Z2；SHB65Z3MEX；SHB65Z3 C-90；10505EX；10442；10447EX/20641EX；
Major Achievement
- 2024 Spanish Badminton Masters Men’s Doubles Semi-Finalist
- 2024 All England Badminton Open Men’s Singles Semi-Finalist
- 2024 German Badminton Open Men’s Singles Champion
- 2024 European Badminton Championships Men’s Team Runner-Up
- 2023 European Games Badminton Men’s Singles Runner-Up
- 2023 European Games Badminton Men’s Doubles Bronze Medalist
- 2023 European Badminton Championships Mixed Team Runner-Up
- 2022 Orleans Masters Men’s Singles Semi-Finalist
- 2022 Dutch Badminton Open Men’s Singles Champion
- 2022 Ukrainian Badminton Open Men’s Singles Champion
- 2021 European Badminton Championships Mixed Team Runner-Up
- 2021 Spanish Badminton Masters Men’s Doubles Semi-Finalist
- 2020 European Badminton Championships Men’s Team Bronze Medalist
- 2019 Italian Badminton Open Men’s Singles Champion
- 2019 Italian Badminton Open Men’s Doubles Runner-Up
- 2019 World Youth Badminton Championships Men’s Singles Runner-Up
- 2018 European Youth Badminton Championships Men’s Singles Runner-Up
- 2018 European Youth Badminton Championships Mixed Team Champion
- 2018 Bulgarian Badminton Open Men’s Doubles Champion
- 2017 European Youth Badminton Championships Mixed Team Champion
September 12, 2024
Hong Kong Open: Gunawan Seeks Breakthrough
Ranked 56th in the world, Jason Gunawan has achieved several victories in his budding career, the most recent being in the first round of the 2024 Li-Ning Hong Kong Open.
His victim, Kenta Nishimoto, is ranked 45 spots higher than Gunawan and shares the leaderboard with Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo and four-time Olympian Misha Zilberman.
However, Gunawan has yet to reach the quarterfinals of an HSBC BWF World Tour event, a goal he is targeting at his home tournament this year.
“For me, it’s been a good season. I’ve surprised some higher-ranked opponents, but I haven’t been able to reach the semifinals or make back-to-back quarterfinals,” the 20-year-old said after defeating Nishimoto 21-13, 21-18. “I hope I can do better in the coming months, starting with this tournament.”
When asked what it would take to make that next step, Gunawan responded: Patience. It all depends on patience.
“It’s much tougher playing against top players, and you feel more fatigued from using too much energy. Maybe my recovery isn’t good enough yet. I need to learn to do better in the future, and that’s something I want to improve.”
Gunawan has lofty ambitions. Reflecting on his win against Nishimoto, Gunawan said: “It’s unbelievable. I just focused on every point and didn’t think about winning or losing. I wanted to challenge my opponent and do my best.
“I was mentally prepared for a three-game match. He chased every ball, which I didn’t expect, but I hope to do better tomorrow.”
To reach the quarterfinals, Gunawan will need to defeat French player Christo Popov, ranked 28th in the world, who overcame Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei 21-19, 21-10.
Chico Aura DWI WARDOYO
September 12, 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
Danish National Badminton Team in Disarray?
Mia’s Departure and New Chapter in France
Following a successful Paris Olympics where Denmark secured a gold medal in badminton thanks to Viktor Axelsen, the Danish team faces significant changes. Denmark’s top female singles player, Mia, has announced her departure from the national team to relocate to France and train with her boyfriend, France’s top male player, Christo Popov.
Initially, Mia did not qualify for the Paris Olympics, but the Danish Badminton Association chose her over higher-ranked Line Kjaersfeldt due to her superior skill. Unfortunately, Mia was eliminated in the group stage. After the Olympics, Mia revealed her plans to leave the Danish national team and move to France to train alongside Boppar.
Challenges for Denmark’s Mixed Doubles
Denmark’s mixed doubles pair, the “golden couple” Christophersen and Boel, are facing unprecedented challenges. Christoffersen was forced to withdraw from the Olympics and received a 12-month suspension due to repeated violations of doping regulations, which has severely impacted their partnership.
As a result, Boel is now partnering with Dutch veteran Robin Tabeling. Tabeling, who was previously ranked in the world’s top 20 and won the mixed doubles title at the 2023 European Games, had considered retiring after a disappointing performance at the Olympics. Boel and Tabeling plan to compete in the 2024 Finnish Open and Danish Open to maintain their rankings until Christoffersen’s return.
Impact on Denmark’s National Team
Mia’s departure, combined with Christoffersen’s unexpected ban and Axelsen and Antonsen’s long-term training commitments in Dubai, has left the Danish badminton team in a fragmented state. Although the team appears unified on the surface, the leading players are pursuing their individual goals, which has hindered the development of younger talents.
With top players like Axelsen and Antonsen focused on their personal training, and key figures like Mia and Christoffersen pursuing separate paths, Denmark’s young players face a challenging environment for growth. The lack of intense competition and guidance from top players may jeopardize the future of Danish badminton, making it difficult for the next generation to carry forward the legacy of Danish excellence in the sport.
August 27, 2024