Shi Yuqi remains the Chinese to be feared at the World Championships next month, and he gave enough indications partying off the challenge of former junior champion Wang Zheng Xing, winning the China Open crown 14-21, 21-14, 21-15.
Shi Yuqi had silver at Nanjing World’s in 2018, his only medal.
In what was barely distinguishable from the Chinese National Games, 4 favourites won in four categories in All China finals, with the only interest being who would prevail in the last Super 1000 before the centrepiece World’s at Paris.
Though Viktor Axelsen will be itching to snap that crown at Paris, Shi Yuqi has won all three Super 1000s of this year, Malaysia, All England and now China Open until now. Moreover,the Chinese 29-year-old has won all 9 finals of Super 750 or 1000 he’s contested, since January 2024.
Slow to start, the World No 3 Yuqi took time to get going against the 23-year-old ranked No 22. But he had the final wrapped in 64 minutes to win his first China Open crown.
“My results at the China Open hadn’t been great but I’m extremely happy to be able to win here,” Yuqi told BWF. “Zhen Xing played well in first few rounds. His strokeplay and skills are good, and I was prepared for that today. Two sides played different and in first I was with the drift. In the second I told myself to be patient and fight every rally,” he said.
China’s chief contender in women’s singles having superceded Chen Yufei, Wang Zhi Yi played out a dull domineering 21-8, 21-13 win against fourth seed Han Yu.
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Though Wang Zhi Yi alongside An Se Young are the leading contenders at the World’s, Chen Yufei cannot be ruled out despite her early exits in recent tournaments. Having never won a single World title, she can be expected to preserve her energies for Paris.
In doubles, the mixed section has always been a Chinese preserve, and Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping took their head to head to 11-2 against Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, 23-21, 21-17. Most of the Jiang-Wei fight dissipated after they failed to convert the 21-20 set point ceding three straight points.
In women’s doubles, a near 70 minute wringer, the unstoppable Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning prevailed 24-22, 17-21, 21-14. Even assuming Japanese and Koreans are biding their time, Liu-Tan look extremely tough to beat at Paris.
In the only interesting category at Changzhou, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shoibul Fikri, a rejigged pairing ranked just No 210 reminded the world that the Indonesians remained formidable even if they are in a shuffling flux. Trumping the best of the Malaysians in Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-15, 21-14, the 8 match-old pairing won the China Open on a near canter.
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Four Indonesians are a part of Top 10, and Alfian, No 5 with Muhammad Ardianto has only last week begun playing with Fikri. But literally any of the Top 12 in men’s doubles could be contending for the World title at Paris in the crowd favourite category of men’s doubles. Incidentally it was the only one that featured countries besides China at China Open and kept spectators enthralled.
