Latest news with #AlexLanier
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Shi Yuqi wins Japan Open badminton title over Lanier
CHINA 's Shi Yuqi secured the Japan Open badminton title with a commanding 21-17, 21-15 victory over defending champion Alex Lanier of France in the men's singles final. The former world number one showcased his experience against the rising French star, sealing the win in 50 minutes. 'I wanted to take it at my own pace, and even if I was losing I knew it was important to dig in,' said Shi, currently ranked third globally. 'My opponent is young and he has a lot of physical strength, so I knew I had to stick to my own style.' Lanier, who won his first major senior title in Tokyo last year, admitted feeling the pressure as defending champion. 'I don't think that it is affecting me mentally, but physically you play with a bit more pressure,' he said. In the women's final, South Korea's An Se-young continued her dominant season with a 21-12, 21-10 win over China's Wang Zhiyi. The world number one has now claimed six titles in seven tournaments this year, her only defeat coming at the Singapore Open. 'I always have areas that need to be improved on so I work on those in training,' said An, the reigning Olympic champion. 'I challenge myself and that's what leads to these results.' China enjoyed further success in doubles events. Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin triumphed in mixed doubles, while Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning won the women's doubles. South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae took the men's doubles title over Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. - AFP
Malay Mail
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
China's Shi Yuqi beats defending champion Lanier to take Japan Open title
TOKYO, July 20 — China's former badminton world number one Shi Yuqi won the Japan Open title on Sunday, beating French defending champion Alex Lanier 21-17, 21-15 in the final. South Korea's An Se-young downed China's Wang Zhiyi 21-12, 21-10 in the women's final to capture an incredible sixth title in seven tournaments so far this year. Shi was replaced at the top of the men's world rankings by Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in June, but he was too good for rising star Lanier in Tokyo. The Chinese player came out on top after a close first game and wore his 20-year-old opponent down to close out the match in 50 minutes. 'I wanted to take it at my own pace, and even if I was losing I knew it was important to dig in,' said current world number three Shi, who won his third title of the year. 'My opponent is young and he has a lot of physical strength, so I knew I had to stick to my own style.' Lanier won his first major senior title in Tokyo last year and he followed it up with victory at the European Championships in April. He will attempt to win the world title in front of his home fans in Paris next month, but he admitted he felt pressure in Tokyo as the defending champion. 'I don't think that it is affecting me mentally, but physically you play with a bit more pressure,' he said. 'The movements are a bit less relaxed and there are some distractions in the timing, in the footwork.' World women's number one An extended her remarkable run of form with a dominating win over second-seeded Wang. An's only defeat this year came in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open last month. 'I always have areas that need to be improved on so I work on those in training,' said the 23-year-old An, who won gold at last year's Paris Olympics. 'I challenge myself and that's what leads to these results – I put in extra effort on the things that need improving.' China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin took the mixed doubles title, beating Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Suprissara Paewsampran 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 in the final. China also came out on top in women's doubles, with the top-seeded pair of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-15, 21-14. South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Sueng-jae won the men's doubles final 21-16, 21-17 over Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. — AFP
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shi beats Lanier to win Japan Open badminton title
China's former badminton world number one Shi Yuqi won the Japan Open title on Sunday, beating French defending champion Alex Lanier 21-17, 21-15 in the final. South Korea's An Se-young downed China's Wang Zhiyi 21-12, 21-10 in the women's final to capture an incredible sixth title in seven tournaments so far this year. Shi was replaced at the top of the men's world rankings by Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in June, but he was too good for rising star Lanier in Tokyo. The Chinese player came out on top after a close first game and wore his 20-year-old opponent down to close out the match in 50 minutes. "I wanted to take it at my own pace, and even if I was losing I knew it was important to dig in," said current world number three Shi, who won his third title of the year. "My opponent is young and he has a lot of physical strength, so I knew I had to stick to my own style." Lanier won his first major senior title in Tokyo last year and he followed it up with victory at the European Championships in April. He will attempt to win the world title in front of his home fans in Paris next month, but he admitted he felt pressure in Tokyo as the defending champion. "I don't think that it is affecting me mentally, but physically you play with a bit more pressure," he said. "The movements are a bit less relaxed and there are some distractions in the timing, in the footwork." World women's number one An extended her remarkable run of form with a dominating win over second-seeded Wang. An's only defeat this year came in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open last month. "I always have areas that need to be improved on so I work on those in training," said the 23-year-old An, who won gold at last year's Paris Olympics. "I challenge myself and that's what leads to these results -- I put in extra effort on the things that need improving." China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin took the mixed doubles title, beating Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Suprissara Paewsampran 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 in the final. China also came out on top in women's doubles, with the top-seeded pair of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-15, 21-14. South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Sueng-jae won the men's doubles final 21-16, 21-17 over Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. amk/fox
Japan Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Shi beats Lanier to win Japan Open badminton title
China's former badminton world No. 1 Shi Yuqi won the Japan Open title on Sunday, beating French defending champion Alex Lanier 21-17, 21-15 in the final. South Korea's An Se-young downed China's Wang Zhiyi 21-12, 21-10 in the women's final to capture an incredible sixth title in seven tournaments so far this year. Shi was replaced at the top of the men's world rankings by Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in June, but he was too good for rising star Lanier in Tokyo.
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
How a 20-year-old is leading a French revolution in world badminton
Rising French badminton star Alex Lanier admits he will be under pressure at next month's world championships in front of his home fans, but vowed on Tuesday to "stay in my own zone" away from distractions. The 20-year-old has rocketed to number eight in the world after a breakthrough year that has seen him win the Japan Open and be crowned European champion. He is aiming for more success when the world championships begin in Paris on August 25, at the venue where the Olympic badminton tournament was held last year. Lanier admits he is "not an underdog any more" and will play with a target on his back in Paris. "There is a bit of pressure but I am also taking it as a moment that I can share with family and friends," he said in Tokyo on Tuesday, where he began his Japan Open title defence with a 21-12, 21-14 win over Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao. "I want to get the maximum I can and play the best I can, to share this moment with everyone," he said. "It's also interesting, this kind of condition that there are a lot of people around, a lot of distractions -- I will need to stay in my own zone." Lanier did not play at the 2024 Olympics, but he announced himself on the world stage just a couple of weeks later by winning the Japan Open. He beat China's then world number one Shi Yuqi and Malaysia's Paris Games bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia on the way to lifting his first major senior title. Golden French generation His rise gathered pace when he won the European Championships in April with a victory over fellow Frenchman Toma Junior Popov in the final. Lanier said he had improved "mentally and physically, but also technically" as he targets more Tokyo glory this week. "I think I'm not an underdog any more -- I'm definitely ready to play well and to get this title," he said. "There is definitely more pressure than last year, to be honest, but I think I'm quite good at controlling this kind of thing." French badminton is currently riding high, with Lanier, Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov all ranked in the men's singles top 20. Lanier says talk of a golden generation is premature but he believes French badminton is "improving in all areas". "Our staff is more professional, there is better structure and the young players are more professional earlier than what we were before," he said. "So I feel that yes we are performing, but also we are showing the young generation in France." French fans gave Olympic badminton a warm welcome at the Paris Games, with large crowds and enthusiastic support at the La Chapelle Arena. Lanier believes "it's going to be huge again" at the world championships, and he is looking forward to experiencing it for himself. "I think the fans enjoyed last year and I think they are expecting the same thing, and that's why they're coming," he said. "They know that it's going to be a fantastic event."
