Latest news with #LuGuangzu
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Kunlavut Vitidsarn to top world ranking after making KFF Singapore Badminton Open final
SINGAPORE – A new men's singles world No. 1 is born in Singapore for the second year running, after Thailand's second-ranked Kunlavut Vitidsarn beat Taiwanese world No. 19 Lin Chun-yi 21-11, 25-23 in their semi-final at the US$1 million (S$1.29 million) KFF Singapore Badminton Open on May 31. By reaching the final, where he will meet China's world No. 15 Lu Guangzu on June 1, the 24-year-old has earned enough ranking points to displace China's Shi Yuqi and become the first Thai to reach the top rung when the world rankings are next released on June 3. Incidentally, Shi also rose to No. 1 for the first time after winning the 2024 KFF Singapore Badminton Open. After punching the air and hugging his coach Patapol Ngernsrisuk, Kunlavut said: 'I saw on social media I could be world No. 1 if I won today, so I'm very happy I did it. 'I'm also happy because I have been a champion three times this year, and this is my fourth final. I still need to learn a lot before the (Aug 25-31) world championships, and my bigger goals are to win Olympic gold and the All England Open title.' As the current world and Asian champion, the soft-spoken Thai is undoubtedly the in-form player in the men's singles field in Singapore, having won all his matches in straight games. After taking the first game 21-11 against Lin, he met with more resistance as the southpaw Taiwanese upped the ante in the second game, when he threw himself in making diving saves, much to the delight of the 7,220-strong crowd. After squandering a 18-15 lead, Lin saved three match points but missed his only one, before he played the shuttle into the net to hand Kunlavut a place in the final. Kunlavut said about the match: 'It's difficult to control and defend against left-handed players. I have to focus, and remember how he likes to play. In this tournament, I have to attack first and take the initiative because the shuttle is very fast and difficult to play with the draught. 'The final will be another really tough match because there's no easy matches in the men's singles game. I will try to do my best and perform well in attack and defence.' In the other semi-final, Lu beat 23rd-ranked Frenchman Christo Popov 21-15, 8-21, 21-15 as he hunts for his fourth career title. The 28-year-old Chinese player said of the final: 'I wasn't able to compete against Kunlavut in the recent Asian championships final because I hurt my back and had to retire. He is in great form so it's going to be a tough match. I'm not going to think too much, and will give my best and fight for the win.' Lu Guangzu is hunting for his fourth career title. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The women's singles final will be an all-China affair featuring world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi and fifth-ranked Chen Yufei. Tokyo 2020 Olympics champion Chen had to recover from a one-game deficit to beat world No. 4 Han Yue 12-21, 21-15, 21-12 and extend the unbeaten run against her compatriot to an astounding 10 matches. The 27-year-old Chen , who lost to An Se-young in the 2024 final but beat the South Korean in the quarter-finals on May 30, said: 'I'm really happy because I honestly didn't expect to make it to the final here. 'After yesterday's win over (world No. 1) An Se-young, I was feeling quite drained in all aspects, so I couldn't get going in the first game. After that, I thought I did well to work my way back point by point and take down the match.' She added: 'I wasn't in good condition, physically and mentally, prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics, and I think I'm 70 to 80 per cent there now. My mental state is in a better place, which helps make up for things if my physical condition is lacking.' She will have a huge psychological advantage in the final as she holds a 9-1 head-to-head record against Wang, who held firm in her 21-12, 12-21, 21-17 win over Japan's world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi. The decider was an especially gripping affair as Wang led 17-7, only for two-time world champion Yamaguchi to reel off nine straight points. The 25-year-old Chinese managed to calm her nerves to take four of the next five points to return to the final after losing at the last hurdle to India's P. V. Sindhu in 2022. Wang, who is looking for a unique Causeway double after winning the Malaysia Masters in the previous week, said: 'My opponent never gave up and managed to catch up, but I'm really glad I was able to withstand the pressure at the crucial points.' 'Being able to make it to back-to-back finals is definitely an affirmation of my performance and a sign that I'm becoming more consistent. She (Chen) is in good form and I hope we can give everyone an exciting match,' added Wang. There will also be new sets of first-time Singapore Open winners crowned in the doubles events. The women's doubles final will be contested between Japan's world No. 6 Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, and South Korea's world No. 8 Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong. In the mixed doubles, Hong Kong's world No. 3 Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet will take on Thailand's eighth-ranked Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran, with only Dechapol having won the event in 2019 and 2022 with Sapsiree Taerattanachai. David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
5 days ago
- General
- CNA
Badminton: Loh Kean Yew loses to France's Christo Popov in Singapore Open quarter-finals
SINGAPORE: Loh Kean Yew's run at the Singapore Open ended on Friday (May 30) as he lost in an upset to France's Christo Popov in the men's singles quarter-finals. The world number 23 Popov took the match 21-10, 21-14 to advance to the last four, where he will face China's Lu Guangzu. The victory means that Popov has now won three of the six meetings against Loh. He had also beaten Loh at the 2023 edition of the tournament in the round of 16. Up against his third consecutive French opponent, world number 10 Loh struggled to find any rhythm in the first game and went behind 8-11 at the interval. Loh had beaten Popov's older brother and doubles partner Toma the day before, but he simply had no answer to the younger Popov, who never relinquished his lead. While Loh took an early lead in the second game, his opponent took control just before the interval and saw the game out to silence the home crowd. Loh was the only Singaporean representative left in the competition after compatriot Yeo Jia Min was eliiminated by world number 1 An Se-young in the round of 16 on Thursday.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Ideal chance for Aidil to show he can break into world's elite
Tough challenge: Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin will play China's Lu Guangzu in the second round of the Thailand Open today. PETALING JAYA: After long harbouring hopes of joining the world's elite, independent men's singles shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin now has a golden chance to test himself when he goes up against Asia Championships runner-up Lu Guangzu today. The 24-year-old will take on the world No. 14 in the second round of the Thailand Open at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok and this will be their first-ever meeting on the international stage. Last week at the Taiwan Open, Aidil had the chance to test himself against world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen, but experience proved the difference as the Malaysian went down 14-21, 16-21 in just 37 minutes. Last week at the Taiwan Open, Aidil had the opportunity to take on world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen, but found the seasoned campaigner too hot to handle and lost 14-21, 16-21 in just 37 minutes. Tien-chen went on to finish as the runner-up in the tournament. Today's clash against Guangzu offers Aidil a shot at redemption and it will be a true test of his credentials as he aims to break into the world's top 32 by the end of the year. Chinese players were once viewed as unbeatable, but that perception no longer intimidates Aidil. He has already claimed a few scalps this year, including Zhang Ning and Wang Zijun at the China Masters in March, though those opponents were ranked much lower than Guangzu. Yesterday, Aidil got his campaign off to a strong start by battling past world No. 32 Wang Zhengxing 21-12, 19-21, 21-18 in the opening round. A victory over Guangzu today would be a significant confidence boost and a statement of intent from the Selangor-born shuttler. 'I won today because I dared to go for my shots, and it paid off. 'As for Lu Guangzu, I know he's the stronger player, but I'm not going to overthink it. I'm just going to go all out and give everything I've got,' said Aidil when contacted. Aidil has spent most of his career competing in lower-tier tournaments such as the International Challenge and International Series, and occasionally in Super 100 events. He has made the most of those opportunities and has already picked up one title this year at the Sri Lanka International in early March. It was his first title since winning the Indonesia International two years ago. In 2022, when he made his debut in a Super 500 event at the Korea Open, his campaign ended in the qualifying round.
