Yu Qi draws on Wong Fei Hung spirit in bid for first world title

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Like martial arts legend Wong Fei Hung stepping into a duel with a worthy opponent, world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi will have to summon all his mastery when he opens his World Championships campaign in Paris from Aug 25-31.
The Chinese ace, chasing an elusive world crown, has been handed one of the toughest first-round assignments ever for a top seed — a showdown with India's world No. 21 Lakshya Sen, a semi-finallist at last year's Paris Olympics.
The 23-year-old Lakshya has struggled for form this season but remains a proven big-stage performer.
At the Paris Olympics last year, he stunned the third seed Jonatan Christie in the group stage and came within one win of a medal before losing to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze playoff.
Lakshya already owns a World Championships bronze from 2021 in Huelva and was a driving force behind India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022.
Yu Qi, however, holds a 3-1 career record against the Indian, winning their last three meetings since 2022.
The 29-year-old also enters Paris as the overwhelming favourite after a stellar season.
He has captured four World Tour titles this year — the Malaysia Open, All England, Japan Open, and China Open — and is riding a 10-match winning streak.
Yu Qi will still tread cautiously if he is to improve on his best result of a runner-up finish in Nanjing 2018.
Victory this week would also restore China's men's singles supremacy last seen in 2015 and place Yu Qi among an illustrious list of champions including Han Jian, Yang Yang, Zhao Jian Hua, Sun Jun, Xia Xuan Ze, Chen Jin, Lin Dan, and Chen Long.
If he advances, Yu Qi should have few problems in the second round against either Vietnam's Le Duc Phat or Belgium's Julien Carraggi.
The last 16 could pit him against France's Christo Popov or Hong Kong's Angus Ng.
A possible quarter-final awaits against another home hero Alex Lanier or fellow Chinese Weng Hong Yang.
Probable semi-final opponents from the other quarter include compatriots Li Shi Feng and Lu Guang Zu, Zii Jia, Japan's Kodai Naraoka, or Singapore's 2021 champion Loh Kean Yew.
The men's singles draw also promises fireworks elsewhere in the early rounds.
Home favourite and world No. 16 Alex Lanier, looking to inspire the Paris crowd, must first negotiate Thailand's 2019 bronze medallist Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the opening round.
Another headline clash sees former world No. 2 Anthony Ginting face French world No. 15 Toma Junior Popov.
It will be only Ginting's third appearance since returning from a long injury layoff, having suffered first-round exits at both the Japan and China Opens.
The match is also a rematch of last year's Paris Olympics group stage, when Popov upset the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist to reach the knockout phase.