The Chinese mainland's Chen Yufei reclaimed her place at the top by winning the women's singles title at the BWF Singapore Open on Sunday. The Tokyo Olympic gold medalist swept aside her fellow Chinese mainland athlete Wang Zhiyi 21-11, 21-11 in just 48 minutes, showcasing laser-sharp precision and rising confidence.
Chen's victory marks a stunning turnaround from last August's Paris Olympics quarterfinal exit that led her to take a reflective break. During a three-month stint in Melbourne, she honed her English and recalibrated her mindset. Returning to the court in February, she sparked a comeback that began with halting South Korea's reigning Olympic champion An Se-young's 27-match winning streak in the quarterfinals, a match that set the tone for her current 22-game unbeaten run.
In the men's singles draw, Thailand's 24-year-old Kunlavut Vitidsarn powered past the Chinese mainland's Lu Guangzu 21-6, 21-10 to claim his fourth title of the season. Vitidsarn's dominant performance not only cements his status as a rising powerhouse but also positions him to become the first men's singles player born after 2000 to reach World No. 1 in the upcoming rankings.
From comeback narratives to historic milestones, this edition of the Singapore Open underscores how resilience, strategy, and raw talent continue reshaping the global badminton landscape.
Reference(s):
Chen Yufei cruises to women's singles title at BWF Singapore Open
cgtn.com
