Friday, 20 Sep 2024

BWF News

The Thaihot China Open witnessed a major upset as rank underdog Kidambi Srikanth defeated Lin Dan in the final. This victory came shortly after Saina Nehwal, another Indian player, won the Women’s Singles title. With these victories, India achieved a remarkable feat by winning two titles at a World Superseries event. Srikanth’s win marked his first World Superseries final.

China, on the other hand, had to settle for two titles out of four finals. Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei secured the Mixed Doubles title, while Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli emerged as the winners in the Women’s Doubles category. In the Men’s Doubles, Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong clinched the victory over Chai Biao and Hong Wei.

For Lin Dan, this defeat was his first in a final since the 2012 Korea Open, where he lost to Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. Srikanth’s triumph against his idol in the final was like a dream come true for the young player. Srikanth showcased excellent strategy by preventing Lin from using his powerful shots and instead opting for a softer approach. This tactic, combined with his agility in anticipating Lin’s moves, helped Srikanth secure a 21-19, 21-17 victory.

In her match against World Junior champion Akane Yamaguchi, Saina Nehwal demonstrated her mastery on the court. Although Yamaguchi’s relentless rallying style had overwhelmed her opponents in previous rounds, Nehwal prevented the match from turning into a similar battle. Nehwal won the first game comfortably, but the second game became a closely contested affair. Yamaguchi had a game point at 20-19, but Nehwal brilliantly executed a deceptive service return that leveled the score. After a long exchange, Nehwal had a match point, and Yamaguchi’s final lift went long, securing Nehwal’s victory with a score of 21-12, 22-20.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  Malaysia Falls Short in the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals

The Women’s Doubles final between Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli and Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei was a thrilling match. Yu and Wang emerged as the champions with a narrow 21-16, 19-21, 22-20 victory. They secured their fourth consecutive China Open title and credited the success to the auspicious city of Fuzhou, known as the “City of Good Fortune” and one of the birthplaces of badminton in China.

The Mixed Doubles final witnessed a fierce battle between Eom and Zhao against their Chinese opponents. The match was closely contested, and at 17-all in the third game, the outcome could have gone either way. However, Eom’s mistake at the net gave China the opportunity they needed to claim victory with a score of 23-25, 21-14, 21-18.

Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong, the Korean pair, dominated the Men’s Doubles final, defeating Chai Biao and Hong Wei from China with a convincing score of 21-14, 21-15.

Overall, the Thaihot China Open showcased some remarkable performances from players around the world. The victories of Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal brought immense pride to India, while China and Korea also had their moments of triumph. The tournament provided thrilling badminton action and set the stage for upcoming tournaments, including the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals, where the best players from around the world will compete.