Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Chinese mainland – On Thursday night at the BWF World Tour Finals, players from the host nation booked five of the eight available semifinal berths, showcasing the depth and dominance of the Chinese mainland squad on home soil.
World No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yuqi edged veteran Chou Tien-chen of the Chinese Taipei team in a nail-biting 21-11, 19-21, 21-15 victory that lasted 75 minutes. The 29-year-old Shi remains unbeaten against the 35-year-old 2018 Asian Games silver medalist since last season, taking his head-to-head record to 14–5.
“My opponent made many changes in the second game, with some tricks I hadn’t seen before, which put a lot of pressure on my focus,” Shi said. “His physical ability is truly exceptional to maintain this level. Apart from Lin Dan, his physical talent might be the best I’ve ever seen.”
In the other Group B clash, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka defeated China’s Li Shifeng 21-16, 21-15, ending Li’s run and setting up a final round-robin showdown between Naraoka and Shi. Naraoka now poses the biggest threat to Shi’s unbeaten streak in the group stage.
With five of eight semifinal slots now claimed by Chinese shuttlers, the home team’s strong showing underscores its status as a powerhouse in global badminton. As the tournament moves into its final group matches and knockout rounds, all eyes will be on Hangzhou’s iconic Olympic Sports Center Arena to see if the Chinese contingent can turn this momentum into championship glory.
Reference(s):
Chinese shuttlers clinch five last-four spots at BWF World Tour Finals
cgtn.com
