An Se Young’s conflicts with the Korean Badminton Association have intensified, raising speculations that she might follow the path of players like Lee Zii Jia and Viktor Axelsen in leaving the national team and forming her own coaching team.
Recently, due to knee and ankle injuries, An Se Young missed this week’s Korea Matsuyama Super 300 Masters event and has announced her withdrawal from the Japan Masters in Kumamoto on November 12. Additionally, she declined to participate in the national team’s intensive training on November 25, with medical documentation submitted to the BWF.
However, according to Yonhap News, An Se Young plans to compete in the China Shenzhen Masters from November 21 to 26 and is actively preparing for the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, starting December 11, with a prize pool of $2.5 million.
After winning the Olympic gold in Paris, An Se Young mentioned being bullied by senior players and expressed discontent with the Korean Badminton Association, even threatening to leave the national team. While the issue seemed to be resolved in her favor, tensions remained high.
At last week’s 2024 Denmark Open, An Se Young’s attitude appeared indifferent. During a match timeout, she ignored her coach, Sung Ji Hyun, even drinking water with her back turned. This behavior led to criticism from Korean Badminton Association President Kim Jae Kyu, who accused An Se Young of acting out. The situation escalated as Korea’s National Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Sports, and Tourism intervened, requesting Kim Jae Kyu to step down and issue a formal apology to An Se Young.
If you’re a fan of badminton, you know it’s not just the game that’s exciting—there are also some seriously charismatic players on the court! Here, you’ll discover five of the most handsome and skilled male badminton players who blend athleticism with a dash of star quality. Whether it’s their focused intensity during a match or their confident charm off the court, these players are bound to catch your eye!
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen is a true star, known for his powerful style and undeniable charisma. At 6’4” with an athletic build and intense blue eyes, Axelsen commands attention on the court. His dedication to the game has brought him countless victories, but it’s his composed demeanor and confidence that make fans around the world admire him even more.
Kento Momota from Japan brings elegance to the game like no other. His swift, calculated movements and sharp playing style show his mastery of badminton. With his sleek look and natural flair, Momota’s calm, understated charisma wins hearts both in Japan and internationally. You’ll find it hard not to root for him!
Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia has a playful smile and an electrifying style that make him an instant favorite. Known for his quick reflexes and strong smashes, he brings a certain energy to every match. His charming, down-to-earth personality off the court only adds to his appeal. If you’re looking for a player who combines athleticism with an approachable charm, Lee is your guy!
Anthony Ginting of Indonesia is not only incredibly talented but also has a warm, inviting smile that fans love. His agility and technique on the court make him a true powerhouse, while his friendly demeanor and easygoing style make him someone you can’t help but cheer for. Ginting’s balance of skill and charm make him a standout.
Last but certainly not least, Jonatan Christie from Indonesia has been a fan favorite for his powerful plays and charming looks. Known for his friendly personality, Jonatan’s cheerful energy lights up the court. He’s both fierce in his matches and effortlessly likable off the court, making him one of the most admired players today.
These five badminton stars bring not only their top-tier skills but also an undeniable presence that makes badminton even more exciting to watch. So, next time you tune in to a match, keep an eye out for these charismatic athletes—you might just find a new favorite player!
The exciting first day of the Denmark Open is nearing its conclusion, with spectators treated to thrilling, high-quality badminton action. Many European players participated, and several have already advanced to Thursday’s second round.
The French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue were on the verge of elimination after losing the first set and trailing 19-14 in the second. They then fell behind 20-17 in the second game but made a fierce comeback with nothing to lose, which was exactly what they needed to turn the match around. You can watch their full interview on Badminton Europe’s YouTube channel.
Mia Blichfeldt also secured a much-needed victory—her first win since the Olympics and her first under coach Popov. Alex Lanier and Viktor Axelsen both won their first matches in straight sets and are set to face off on Thursday for the first time since 2022.
Alexandra Bøje and Robin Tabeling made their debut as new partners, defeating Germany’s Jones Ralfy Jansen and Nhan Tuan Phuong with a convincing 21-11, 21-14 victory. Another relatively new pair, Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund, impressed by defeating the strong Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-19, 13-21, 21-12. In the next round, they will face Spain’s Rubén García and Lucía Rodríguez.
In addition to these results, several other European players have secured spots in Thursday’s second round.
Wednesday’s schedule is packed with more European stars. Germany’s Yvonne Li will face the 2017 champion Ratchanok Intanon, while Christo Popov will challenge the in-form seventh seed Lee Zii Jia. His brother Toma Junior Popov has a tough first-round match against world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. The Popov brothers also face a challenge in doubles, where they will meet the world No. 2 pair Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Kim Astrup.
Additionally, the energetic British pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy will face tough competition against Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
Europe’s campaign at the YONEX BWF World Junior Championships 2024 concluded after the quarterfinals. The top-seeded mixed doubles pair, Tom Lalot Trescarte and Elsa Jacob (FRA), were the last European hopes, making their way from the Round of 128 before bowing out in the quarters.
The duo has had an impressive year, securing several titles, including the FZ FORZA Alpes International U19 2024 and the senior-level VICTOR Latvia International 2023.
Though no European players took home a title this time, the growing talent pool across Europe shows a promising future for the continent’s badminton scene.
Tokyo and Paris Olympic men’s singles gold medalist Viktor Axelsen from Denmark recently reflected on his experiences facing Malaysia’s “Dato’” Lee Chong Wei and China’s “Super Dan” Lin Dan. Axelsen believes that Lee Chong Wei is tougher to deal with.
Axelsen has had numerous opportunities to compete against these two legendary players, but he has struggled significantly against Lee Chong Wei, suffering 11 losses out of 14 encounters. In contrast, he has had a relatively successful track record against Lin Dan, winning 6 out of 9 matches.
Recalling his early encounters with Lee Chong Wei, Axelsen noted that his opponent’s speed and sharpness were difficult to cope with. “I really don’t understand how anyone could beat Lee Chong Wei; he’s so much faster than me. Whenever I try to play a high shot, he would just smash it for a point, and it feels crazy.”
As for facing Lin Dan, Axelsen remarked that Lin’s inclination for drop shots makes him relatively easier to handle. “Although Lin’s shots are hard to predict, I feel I can engage in more rallies, which gives me more confidence.”
Former badminton legend Lee Chong Wei believes that no matter how great a coach is, success depends on the player’s hard work and determination. Reflecting on his own career and experience under several coaches, including Misbun Sidek, Chong Wei emphasized that without a strong personal commitment from the player, results won’t follow. He used Viktor Axelsen as an example, highlighting that although Axelsen’s coach is his father-in-law, the Danish shuttler’s dedication to training plays the key role in his success.
The recent departure of former international player James Chua from the Malaysian national team to coach in the Czech Republic has raised concerns about the current coaching structure in Malaysia. Only Hendrawan and Datuk Tey Seu Bock remain to guide the men’s singles squad, but their future roles are uncertain as Rexy Mainaky considers changes.
Former national badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan present at the press conference to announce two new players Carolina Marin and Saina Nehwal to The Legends’ Vision. Carolina was absent. 08 JANUARY —CHAN TAK KONG/The Star/SAKTESH
Chong Wei pointed out that the coaching lineup should be stable to achieve long-term success, especially with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon. While Malaysian coaches like James Chua, Wong Choong Hann, and others find opportunities abroad, Chong Wei stressed the importance of consistent, quality training to stay at the top.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
China Secures 2 Titles and 3 Runner-Ups at the Hong Kong Open
On the evening of September 15, the 2024 China Hong Kong Badminton Open concluded with China’s national team, fielding a partial main lineup, claiming two championships and three runner-up finishes. On September 17, the Chinese team will head to Changzhou, Jiangsu, to compete in the China Open, one of the highest-level and richest prize money events in the BWF World Tour.
Lei Lanxi Falls Short Against Viktor Axelsen in Men’s Singles Final
In the men’s singles final, Chinese player Lei Lanxi, who reached his first BWF Super 500 final, faced off against Denmark’s two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. The gap in skill between the two was evident, with Lei losing 9-21, 12-21, missing out on his first major tour title. Despite the defeat, Lei’s performance at the Hong Kong Open was commendable, especially his upset victory over Indonesian star Jonatan Christie in the semifinals.
Interestingly, Lei Lanxi’s first-round opponent at the upcoming China Open will be none other than Viktor Axelsen, the No. 2 seed. This means the two will clash twice in three days, and given the current circumstances, Lei will find it challenging to get past Axelsen.
Han Yue Wins Women’s Singles Title, Ending 11-Month Drought
In the women’s singles final, China’s Han Yue took on Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani. Han won in straight sets, 21-18, 21-7, to secure her title and end an 11-month championship drought. Han Yue will face teammate Gao Fangjie in the first round of the China Open.
Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin Claim Mixed Doubles Title
China’s second title came in the mixed doubles event, where Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin defeated their compatriots Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping 2-0. As the third-ranked Chinese mixed doubles team, they upset the second-ranked team to claim the victory. In next week’s China Open, Jiang and Wei will face pairs from Malaysia and Chinese Taipei in the first round.
Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning Disappoint in Women’s Doubles Final
In the women’s doubles final at the Hong Kong Open, Paris Olympic silver medalists Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning struggled and lost 0-2 to Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie/Thinaah Muralitharan. The “Sheng-Tan” pair will have a bye in the first round of the China Open and will begin their campaign in the second round.
Men’s Doubles Remains China’s Weakest Event
Men’s doubles was the only event where no Chinese player made it to the final at the Hong Kong Open, highlighting China’s struggles in this category. However, there is hope as Olympic silver medalists and China’s top men’s doubles pair, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, will finally return to action after a series of post-Olympic activities and rest. As defending champions, they are the top seeds in the China Open and will face France’s Popov brothers in the first round.
