Latest news with #YuQi
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Yu Qi draws on Wong Fei Hung spirit in bid for first world title
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.
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
We have some way to go against China, concedes Kenneth Jonassen
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's objective of reaching their third consecutive Sudirman Cup semi-final did not materialise, and national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen admitted that the shuttlers still have some way to go against China. China, the 13-time champions, wasted no time in securing a quick 3-0 win over Malaysia to reach the semi-finals. The quarter-final tie was as good as lost when Malaysia's world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were beaten 21-17, 21-17 in the opening mixed doubles match by world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping. In the David vs Goliath battle that ensued, there was no fairytale ending for men's singles world No. 26 Leong Jun Hao who lost 21-6, 21-14 to China's world No. 1 Shi Yi Qi in 38 minutes. Greenhorn K. Letshanaa received a lesson in badminton from 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei who took China into the semi-finals with a 21-7, 21-8 win in 38 minutes. Admitting that the frustrating 3-2 group defeat to Japan still lingered in his mind, Dane Jonassen said that the quarter-final match demonstrated the vast disparity between China and Malaysia who reached the semi-finals in 2012 (Vantaa) and 2023 (Suzhou). "We learnt the true value of playing against world class China when their performance is at the highest level. "We have some way to go," conceded Jonassen. "Obviously the last match inflicted a lot of frustration but we got our hands full against China today. "There were small windows which you have to do better in if you want to challenge China but today, they were too strong. "I think when our game plan is right and we are able to execute and are strong in believing in ourselves, we are doing the right thing in challenging them. "However, I know that the journey is still long before we can get to that level to play the best players in the world. "But the quality back home really has to be there to ensure all the right details are there to (offer) challenge when we go for tournaments." Jun Hao, who stunned world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka in Malaysia's 3-2 defeat to Japan, couldn't raise his game as Yu Qi proved to be a class above. The Malaysian, however, had some fine moments as he led 8-3 in the second game but Yu Qi was back in the game in no time and won in style. "I was just trying to push myself and be more aggressive in the second game to play more consistent shots but I had my limitations," said Jun Hao. "Overall, I'm satisfied with my performance here although I lost today. "As the captain, I am proud with the way I have played and with my teammates." With the tie decided after the women's singles, the matches involving men's doubles world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 3 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang and women's doubles world No. 5 Pearly Tan-M Thinaah and world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning were not held. China will meet Japan, who beat Taiwan 3-0, in the last four.
