China showcased its badminton prowess at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, securing a decisive 1-2 finish in women’s singles and advancing to multiple finals amid fierce regional competition. Olympic champion Chen Yufei delivered a masterclass on Saturday, overpowering South Korea's Sim Yu-jin 21-11, 21-11. She will battle compatriot Han Yue in Sunday’s final after Han triumphed in an all-Chinese semifinal against Gao Fangjie.
Men’s Singles: Resilience Over Rivals
China’s Lu Guangzu staged a thrilling comeback in the men’s singles semifinals, defeating Li Shifeng 19-21, 21-10, 21-14 after a grueling 78-minute match. The 29-year-old credited his victory to mental fortitude: "I minimized errors and stayed disciplined during long rallies." Awaiting Lu in the final is Thailand’s world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who defeated Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in straight games.
Upsets and Regional Rivalries
Japanese duo Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida stunned China’s defending women’s doubles champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, setting up a final clash against rising Chinese stars Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik ousted China’s reigning men’s doubles titleholders, sparking anticipation for their showdown with Chinese pair Chen Boyang and Liu Yi. Hong Kong SAR’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet will face Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito in mixed doubles.
