On October 9th, during the men’s singles event at the 2024 Arctic Badminton Open, Lei Lanxi, fresh off his runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, lost 1-2 (17-21, 29-27, 16-21) to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka, exiting in the first round.
The match lasted 91 minutes, with Lei winning the second game after a closely contested 29-27 battle. Unfortunately, despite leading 15-12 in the deciding game, he allowed his opponent to mount a 9-1 run and lost the match.
In another match, Weng Hongyang, this year’s China Open champion, also exited in the first round, losing 11-21, 14-21 to Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
Now, only Li Shifeng and Lu Guangzu remain for China in the men’s singles. Li Shifeng will face Lee Cheuk Yiu in the Round of 16, holding a 3-0 head-to-head record. Meanwhile, Lu Guangzu will take on Koki Watanabe, with Lu having a 2-0 record against the Japanese player.
Lee Zii Jia will face off against Koki Watanabe in the quarterfinals for a much-anticipated rematch. In today’s round of 16 at the Arctic Badminton Super 500 tournament, world No. 14 Koki Watanabe comfortably defeated China’s Lu Guangzu 21-11, 21-13, advancing to the quarterfinals where he will meet Lee Zii Jia. This win marked Watanabe’s first victory over Lu in their three encounters. Earlier, Malaysian men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia also cruised into the quarterfinals, defeating another Japanese player, Yushi Tanaka, in straight sets.
Last month, in the China Open (Super 1000), Lee Zii Jia suffered a crushing defeat to Watanabe 15-21, 2-21, marking his second consecutive loss to the Japanese star. Now, as they meet again, will Lee Zii Jia exact revenge or will Koki Watanabe secure another victory? All eyes are on this battle.
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’sLee 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.
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.
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.
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.
Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong defied the odds to capture the Women’s Doubles title at the Korea Open 2024, held at the Mokpo Indoor Stadium in Seoul. The sixth-seeded pair, who have risen from a world No. 3 ranking in 2022 to their current No. 20 spot, delivered a stellar performance in front of their home crowd.
In the final, Na-eun and Hye-jeong faced off against the fourth-seeded Malaysian duo, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. Despite Tan and Thinaah’s impressive run, which included a semifinal victory over the top-seeded Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee, they struggled in the final. Jeong and Kim clinched victory with a decisive 12-21, 11-21 scoreline, marking their second Korea Open title and their fourth BWF World Tour win.
Korea’s Mixed Results in Other Categories
Korea’s success continued with a Women’s Singles title, though it came via a walkover. Seventh-seeded Kim Ga-eun did not need to break a sweat as second-seeded Wang Zhi Yi from China withdrew, awarding Kim the title without a match.
However, Korea’s bid for a third title fell short in the Men’s Doubles. Top-seeded Kang Min-yuk and Seo Seung-jae were outplayed by Indonesia’s seventh-seeded duo, Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana. Despite losing the first set 8-21, Carnando and Maulana mounted a remarkable comeback to win the next two sets 21-9, 21-8, securing their first BWF World Tour title of the year.
Malaysian Victory in Mixed Doubles
In the Mixed Doubles final, Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie and To Ee Wei held their ground against unranked opponents Guo Xin Wa and Li Qian from China. The fourth-seeded Malaysians displayed remarkable composure in a grueling match that lasted nearly an hour. They emerged victorious with a 17-21, 21-13, 21-13 win, marking their first BWF World Tour title of the year and their third overall.
China Secures Men’s Singles Title
Despite the mixed results, China claimed a title at the Korea Open with Lu Guang Zu winning the Men’s Singles crown. The seventh-seeded Lu, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, overcame a tough challenge from Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-hao with a 21-16, 20-22, 21-18 victory in a 68-minute battle, earning his first title of the year.
Lu Guangzu won the men’s singles title at the Korea Open with scores of 21-16, 20-22, and 21-18 against Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hao, securing the sole championship for the Chinese national team at this event.
In the first set, Lu Guangzu gradually pulled ahead after a 3-all tie, winning 21-16.
In the second set, Lu Guangzu started strong with a 6-0 lead, but Lee Chia-hao fought back. Despite Lu Guangzu equalizing at 20-all, Li Jiahao won the set 22-20.
In the decisive third set, Lu Guangzu began to pull away after a 14-all tie. Although Lee Chia-hao came close at 18-19, Lu Guangzu secured the final victory with a score of 21-18.
Lee Chia-hao performed exceptionally well, defeating the 3rd seed Li Shi-feng in the quarterfinals and the 8th seed Lin Chun-yi in the semifinals, marking his first career appearance in a Super 500 final.
While three Chinese representatives reached the finals, Wang Zhi-yi withdrew from the women’s singles final, and Guo Xinwa/Li Qian lost to Malaysia’s Chen Tangjie/Toh Ee Wei in the mixed doubles final. Only Lu Guangzu claimed a title.
Lu Guangzu (陆光祖), born in October 1996 in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, is a Chinese male badminton player, an international-level sportsman, who plays for the Jiangsu Provincial Badminton Team.In 2016, Lu was selected for the second team of the China National Badminton Team; in June 2017, he was selected for the first team of the China National Badminton Team.
In September 2017, Lu Guangzu won the third place in the men’s badminton team and the third place in the men’s singles in the Thirteenth Games of the People’s Republic of China.
In May 2018, Lu Guangzu played in the Australian Open Badminton Championships, defeating teammate Zhou Zeqi 2-0 (21-8, 23-21) in the men’s singles final to win his first adult tournament title.
In March 2019, Lu Guangzu won the men’s team title at the 2019 Asian Badminton Mixed Team Championships.
In September 2020, Lu Guangzu helped Qingdao Renzhou win the 2020 China Badminton Club Super League.
In September 2021, Lu Guangzu won the third place in Men’s Badminton Team and the second place in Men’s Singles in the 14th Games of the People’s Republic of China.
In October 2021, Lu Guangzu won the 2021 Sudirman Cup World Badminton Mixed Team Championship.
In September 2023, Lu Guangzu competed in the China Open Badminton Championships and reached the final of the Men’s Singles event, but was defeated by Anselmo Ansalon 16-21,19-21, finishing second.
In September 2024, Lu broke a six-year title drought by defeating Li Jiahao 21-16,20-22,21-18 in the final of the Korea Open to win his third career tour men’s singles title.
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.
Shi Yuqi, who made a strong comeback this year by winning the Denmark Open and Australia Open, uses the Yonex Astrox 100ZZ in navy blue. This racket features a 6.3mm Hyper Slim solid core and an ultra-thin frame design, making it the thinnest in Yonex history. It combines the speed attributes of the Astrox 800 with the power of the Astrox 99/88D, offering excellent backcourt attack while remaining lightweight.
The BG80P is an offensive string with similar durability to the BG65 but offers enhanced durability and a softer feel compared to the BG80. Despite its popularity, BG80P is often out of stock due to high demand.
Zhao Junpeng, who had an impressive first half of the year with a runner-up finish at the Indonesia Open and a bronze medal at the World Championships, uses the new 3U version of the ArcSaber 11 PRO. Despite his strings being at 31-33 lbs, he often adds tape to the racket head to increase its offensive power. The BG66UM, with a 0.65mm gauge, was once Yonex’s thinnest string, favored by top players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei. Known for its excellent elasticity and sharp hitting sound, BG66UM offers great performance but has a very low durability, often breaking quickly under heavy use.
Li Shifeng also uses the Astrox 100ZZ but prefers the 3U version for its slightly heavier weight. Paired with the 0.65mm BG66UM, this setup provides powerful attacking capabilities.
Lu Guangzu: Yonex Astrox 99 PRO (3U), Yonex BGAB Strings, 30-32 lbs
Lu Guangzu, who secured the runner-up position at the Australia Open, uses the Astrox 99 PRO in 3U. This racket, known for its strong offensive properties, features a tungsten-infused top for enhanced head heaviness and a thinner “EXTRA SLIM SHAFT” for better high-tension performance. The BGAB string, with a 0.61mm gauge for horizontal and 0.67mm for vertical, combines high elasticity with good control but has average durability.
Chen Yufei, who won one gold and seven silver medals this season, uses the new Astrox 77 PRO. This racket features a balanced design with a 76-hole pattern and a slightly stiff shaft, making it user-friendly for most players. The BGXB63, with its 0.63mm gauge, is exceptionally thin, providing a firm hit with excellent elasticity but limited durability.
He Bingjiao: Yonex VTZF2 (4U), Yonex BG66UM Strings, 29-31 lbs
He Bingjiao, who won four titles this year, uses the Yonex VTZF2, known for its head-heavy balance and high difficulty of use. With a 310mm balance point and a stiff shaft, it offers exceptional attacking power but a narrow sweet spot. Paired with the 0.65mm BG66UM and a tension of around 30 lbs, the VTZF2 enhances He Bingjiao’s offensive capabilities.
Wang Zhiyi, who won the Asian Championships early this year, uses the Astrox 100ZZ with the ultra-thin and elastic BGXB63 strings. Despite a strong start, her performance declined in the latter half of the season. Her setup provides excellent feel and control for her play style.
World number 19 Lakshya Sen of India triumphed over Weng Hongyang with a score of 24-22, 21-15 at the Super 500 Indonesia Masters, marking his first advance to the round of 16 in five months.
Lakshya, whose world ranking once soared to 6th, had been struggling in the latter half of 2023. Starting from the Super 1000 China Open in September up until last week’s Super 750 India Open, he faced eight consecutive first-round exits.
In the next round, Lakshya will face Lu Guangzu, who overturned a match against Indonesian local star Jonatan Christie with scores of 19-21, 21-19, 21-9.
