The China Open, the 27th tournament on the 2024 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, commenced on Tuesday in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, east China. The opening day saw several homegrown talents secure impressive victories, delighting the local fans and setting a promising tone for the tournament.
In the men’s singles, World No. 1 Shi Yuqi showcased his dominance by defeating Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand in straight sets, 21-10, 21-19. Shi started the match with a commanding 10-0 run, asserting his control early and taking the first game by an 11-point margin. The second game was more fiercely contested, with the players tied at 19-19 before Shi sealed the win with two decisive attacks.
“I appreciate the support I received playing at home, not only from the spectators inside the arena but also from the audience watching on TV,” Shi expressed after his victory. “Their encouragement motivated me to perform at my best.” Shi is set to face Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the next round on Thursday.
In women’s singles action, Wang Zhiyi advanced to the next round by overcoming Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt with a scoreline of 21-14, 21-12. Wang demonstrated consistent performance throughout the match, securing her place in the subsequent round.
The men’s doubles saw the Chinese duo of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang defeat France’s Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov in two straight games, 22-20, 21-16. After a closely fought first game, Liang and Wang pulled ahead in the second to clinch the match. They will next face Indonesia’s pair Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Marthin for a spot in the quarterfinals.
In the women’s doubles, Li Wenmei and Zhang Shuxian triumphed over Chang Ching-hui and Yang Ching-tun of Chinese Taipei, winning 21-17, 21-9. Demonstrating strong teamwork and strategy, Li and Zhang advanced to face South Korea’s Kong Hee-yong and Kim So-yeong in their upcoming match.
The successful performances of the Chinese players on the opening day have energized the home crowd and added excitement to the tournament’s proceedings. Fans are eager to see how these athletes will continue to compete as the China Open progresses.
Reference(s):
Multiple home badminton players earn victories to begin the China Open
cgtn.com
