China’s Shi Yuqi downs Lee Cheuk Yiu to win India Open badminton title
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Shi Yuqi remained on top of his baseline play and smashes against his relentless opponent.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW DELHI – Shi Yuqi overcame a stiff challenge from Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu to clinch his second India Open badminton title on Jan 21 – and then warned top-ranked Viktor Axelsen that he is coming for the Dane’s throne.
The 27-year-old Chinese player, ranked second in the world, battled for 54 minutes to win the final 23-21, 21-17 and add to his 2018 title in New Delhi.
Shi, who was appearing in his second final in eight days after finishing runner-up in Malaysia, remained on top of his baseline play and smashes against his relentless opponent.
After a hard-fought first game, Shi was tested again in the second when Lee took 10 straight points after trailing 6-14, but the Chinese kept his nerve.
“In the second game, despite several contentious calls, Lee Cheuk Yiu went ahead. But I was patient and ultimately came through to win,” said Shi.
“This victory is immensely significant in my career, given the prestigious nature of this tournament...
“Since the second half of last year, I have been going through a difficult time.
“I am eager to win every championship and give my all in every game...
“Even though Viktor is currently world No. 1, it is so competitive that anyone can claim the throne.”
In the women’s singles, Taiwanese Tai Tzu-ying went past China’s reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-16, 21-12 in 42 minutes.
Chen, who beat Tai in the Tokyo Games final in 2021, raced to 7-1 before her opponent hit back with aggressive play and soon took the lead as a raucous crowd cheered on.
Chen stretched the opening game with some fighting rallies, but Tai came roaring back in the second to make a huge statement in the build-up to the Paris Olympics.
“I was feeling a bit nervous but I got a lot of support from the fans,” Tai said. “I will fight for the medal in this year’s Olympics. I know it’s going to be difficult but I am working hard for it.
“I think this match (at the India Open) is at the start of the season when (Yufei) is still tired. At the Olympics, everyone is very well prepared.”
Taiwanese Tai Tzu Ying (right) got past reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China 21-16, 21-12 in 42 minutes.
PHOTO: AFP
Tai has said she will retire after the Paris Games and reiterated that sentiment earlier in New Delhi: After Paris, no more.
Said Chen: “She (Tai) has become more patient than before. She was very fast, which put me under a lot of pressure. There is a lot I can learn from her.”
Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara were crowned women’s doubles champions after beating Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu of China 21-12, 21-13.
Thailand’s sixth seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai clinched the mixed doubles title with a 21-16, 21-16 win over China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin.
It was heartbreak for the Indian fans after local heroes Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty went down in a thrilling men’s doubles final to South Korean world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae 15-21, 21-11, 21-18.
Said Shetty: “The loss of early points in the second game helped the Koreans settle down to play the way they normally do.
“We couldn’t stop them and soon started thinking about the decider.”
Rankireddy added: “If we had kept our cool and drawn level in the second half of the final game, the pressure would have been on them.
“But they played very cleverly and never took the pressure.”
AFP, XINHUA
