Birmingham is buzzing as China's top badminton stars, Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng, secure their spots in the men's singles semifinals at the All England Badminton Championships. On Friday, both clinched commanding straight-game victories, setting the stage for an anticipated rematch that echoes last year's final showdown.
The 29-year-old top seed Shi Yuqi edged out Singapore's Loh Kean Yew with scores of 21-18 and 21-16. In a similarly impressive display, sixth seed Li Shifeng ousted India's Lakshya Sen by 21-10, 21-16, paving the way for a high-stakes duel between teammates in a rematch reminiscent of Li's breakthrough win in Birmingham in 2023.
Elsewhere in the men's draw, French competitor Alex Lanier, just 20 years old, advanced after defeating Chinese Taipei's Lee Chia-hao in straight games. Lanier stands out as the only semifinalist from outside Asia, adding a unique international twist to the tournament.
The women's singles action delivered its own surprises. China's Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei was unable to fend off South Korea's top seed, An Se-young, who secured a decisive win with scores of 21-9, 21-14. An will face off against Japan's ace Akane Yamaguchi, following a tense battle in which Yamaguchi narrowly overcame her 18-year-old teammate Tomoka Miyazaki. A spirited Chinese derby between Wang Zhiyi and Han Yue is set to round out the remaining semifinal matchup.
In the doubles arena, the competition remains fierce. The women's doubles semifinals will feature a face-off between Chinese and Japanese pairs, while the mixed doubles bracket sees three Chinese pairs advancing. In the men's doubles, the duo of He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu remain as China's sole medal hope.
As the All England Championships continue to captivate audiences worldwide, this global sporting spectacle unites enthusiasts—from tech-savvy young global citizens to dedicated sports fans—with dynamic stories of skill, rivalry, and cross-cultural inspiration.
Reference(s):
China's Shi, Li to lock horns at All England Badminton semifinals
cgtn.com
