Chen Yufei was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, missing out on a consecutive title. After the match, she announced a temporary break and applied for world ranking protection. Next week, her ranking will surpass An Seyoung, marking her return to the world No. 1 position since March 10, 2020.
The top two women’s singles players have both been absent from competitions for an extended period after the Paris Olympics. Chen Yufei has taken a break from the court, while An Seyoung, following her gold medal win at the Paris Olympics, has suspended her participation due to injury concerns. Their rankings will switch next week, with An Seyoung losing 5,580 points, dropping her world total to 100,337 points, while Chen Yufei will lose 1,800 points, reaching 101,682 points to reclaim the top spot. The third and fourth places are held by Wang Zhiyi from China, Spain’s Carolina Marin, Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, China’s Han Yue, Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, Japan’s Aya Ohori, and American-born Zhang Beiwen.
After Chen Yufei‘s return to the world No. 1 position, the Chinese badminton team holds the top ranking in all five events, with Shi Yuqi firmly seated as the king of men’s singles, Liang Weikang/Wang Chang leading men’s doubles, and Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan and Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong holding the top spots in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, respectively.
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).
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.
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
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.
The finals of the Korea Open Badminton Championships were scheduled for today, but Chinese No. 2 seed Wang Zhiyi announced her withdrawal before the match. Her opponent in the women’s singles final, Korea’s No. 7 seed Kim Ga-eun, won the championship by default.
After the match, Wang Zhiyi updated her social media to apologize, writing, “I am very sorry that I had to withdraw due to health reasons. I will take a short rest and come back soon. Thank you for being so concerned.”
In yesterday’s semifinals, world No. 6 Wang Zhiyi battled for 1 hour and 18 minutes, narrowly defeating fellow host nation player Shim Yu-jin with a score of 19-21, 21-13, 24-22.
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.
Wang Zhiyi (王祉怡), born in 2000 in Shashi City, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, is a Chinese badminton player.
In 2010, Wang Zhiyi became involved in badminton and graduated from Hongxing Road Primary School in Shashi City, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, where she learnt from former national player and women’s doubles star Wei Yili.
In 2012, Wang Zhiyi officially became a badminton player at the Hubei Olympic Sports Centre.
In 2014, Wang Zhiyi entered the national youth team.
In 2017, Wang Zhiyi was selected into the second team of the Chinese national badminton team.
On 3 September 2017, in the women’s badminton team final of the Thirteenth Games of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Zhiyi played the third women’s singles match on behalf of Hubei, and lost to Wang Shixian, 0-2 (15-21, 12-21); ultimately, Hubei lost to Jiangsu by a total score of 1-3, and won the second place. On 19 November, in the women’s singles final of the 2017 Korea Badminton Youth Challenge, Wang Zhiyi won the title with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) victory over Wei Yaxin. At the end of the same year, Wang Zhiyi was selected to the first team of the Chinese national badminton team.
On 22 July 2018, in the women’s singles final of the 2018 Badminton Asia Junior Championships, Wang Zhiyi won the title with a 2-0 victory over Zhou Meng.
In 2019, she was honoured by the General Administration of Sport as an international-level sportsman.
On 15 July 2019, in the women’s singles final of the 2019 U.S. Open Badminton Championships at the Super 300 level, Wang Zhiyi defeated South Korea’s Kim Jae-eun, 2-0 (21-18, 21-19), to collect her first individual singles title at a Super 300 event.
On 6 October 2019, Wang Zhiyi won the women’s singles final of the Indonesia Badminton Malang Badminton Masters with a 2-1 (20-22, 21-15, 21-13) victory over Thailand’s Pongtip.
On 14 September 2020, Wang Zhiyi won the 2020 China Badminton Club Super League as a member of Qingdao Renzhou Badminton Club.
On 10 November 2020, in the women’s singles final of the 2020 National Badminton Championships, Wang Zhiyi lost to Chen Yufei 2-4 (13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-13, 9-11) to finish second.
On 11 September 2021, in the women’s badminton team final of the 14th Games of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Zhiyi played the third women’s singles match on behalf of Hubei, and gained a point for Hubei by defeating Hui Xirui 2-1 (20-22, 21-8, 21-14); finally, Hubei won the championship by defeating Jiangsu with a total score of 3-0.
In 2021, she was awarded the title of Hubei Youth May Fourth Medal by the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League and the Hubei Provincial Youth Federation.
On 1 May 2022, in the women’s singles final of the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships, Wang Zhiyi won the title by defeating Japan’s Yamaguchi 2-1 (15-21, 21-13, 21-19).
On 28 January 2024, Wang Zhiyi defeated Japan’s Hope Okuhara 21-14,21-13 in the final of the Indonesia Masters, extending her unbeaten record with two consecutive victories in the encounter to win her first women’s singles title of the Badminton Federation Tour this season, breaking a title drought of nearly two years since she topped the Badminton Asia Championships in 2022.
