Shenzhen, China: Hong Kong is guaranteed the men’s singles title at the 2026 China Masters after Lee Cheuk Yiu and Jason Gunawan produced superb semifinal performances to set up a historic all-Hong Kong final.

Gunawan survived a marathon 98-minute battle against Denmark’s fifth seed Anders Antonsen, fighting back to win 15-21, 22-20, 21-16. Earlier, Lee delivered a composed straight-games performance to defeat France’s second seed Christo Popov 21-15, 21-19.

The result gives Hong Kong its first all-Hong Kong men’s singles final in the HSBC BWF World Tour era and guarantees the territory one of its biggest badminton titles in recent years.

Malaysia also has reason to celebrate after mixed doubles independents Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing reached their first World Tour final together, continuing an extraordinary China Masters run with a dominant semifinal victory.

Jason Gunawan Produces 98-Minute Comeback Against Anders Antonsen

Gunawan’s semifinal was the more dramatic of the two Hong Kong victories.

The 22-year-old dropped the opening game 15-21 against the experienced Antonsen and then found himself under enormous pressure in a tight second game.

Gunawan held his nerve at the critical moment, taking the game 22-20 before completing the comeback 21-16 in the decider.

Winner: Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong
Defeated: Anders Antonsen of Denmark
Score: 15-21, 22-20, 21-16
Match duration: 98 minutes
Round: 2026 China Masters semifinal

The victory sends Gunawan into the first Super 750 final of his career and completes a remarkable week in Shenzhen.

He had already produced one of the biggest badminton upsets of the tournament by defeating newly crowned world No. 1 Jonatan Christie before eliminating defending champion Weng Hongyang in the quarterfinals.

Watch Jason Gunawan vs Anders Antonsen Highlights

Lee Cheuk Yiu Beats Christo Popov in Straight Games

Lee Cheuk Yiu needed considerably less drama to book his place in the final.

Facing France’s second-seeded Christo Popov, Lee controlled the important stages of both games and closed out a 21-15, 21-19 victory.

Winner: Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong
Defeated: Christo Popov of France
Score: 21-15, 21-19
Round: 2026 China Masters semifinal

Popov had looked dangerous throughout the tournament and had comfortably defeated Japan’s World Championships runner-up Kodai Naraoka 21-10, 21-14 in the quarterfinals.

Lee, however, was able to neutralize the Frenchman’s attack and ensure that Hong Kong would occupy both places in the men’s singles championship match.

Watch Lee Cheuk Yiu vs Christo Popov Highlights

Historic All-Hong Kong Men’s Singles Final

Lee and Gunawan will now face each other for the China Masters title in a match that carries significance far beyond the trophy itself.

It will be the first all-Hong Kong men’s singles final in the HSBC BWF World Tour era.

For two players who spend countless hours training together and know each other’s games extremely well, the occasion will be both unusual and memorable.

“It’s fantastic. I think it’s the first time we can test ourselves against each other in a title match. We know each other very well. We train a lot together,” Gunawan said.

The only previous World Tour final featuring Hong Kong players on both sides came in mixed doubles at the 2018 Macau Open, when Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet faced Reginald Lee and Chau Hoi Wah.

Gunawan Hopes Breakthrough Can Inspire Hong Kong Badminton

For Gunawan, reaching the final is more than an individual achievement.

He hopes his breakthrough can give confidence to younger Hong Kong players and demonstrate that they can compete against the strongest badminton nations on the World Tour.

“It’s a great confidence boost for us and our team. Hopefully, we can show our teammates and younger players that we can fight against the stronger teams.”

Gunawan said both finalists hope to produce their best badminton in the championship match.

“We both hope we can play our A game and show the audience the best fight.”

Wong Choong Hann Emotional After Gunawan’s Victory

The significance of the result was also clear on the sidelines.

Hong Kong coach Wong Choong Hann, the former Malaysian men’s singles star, became visibly emotional after watching Gunawan complete his comeback against Antonsen.

Wong shed tears of joy as the realization set in that Hong Kong had secured both places in the China Masters men’s singles final.

For a coach who has spent years working with the players, seeing two members of the same program reach a Super 750 final against each other represented a major milestone.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Reach China Masters Final

Malaysia will also have representation on finals day through Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing.

The independent mixed doubles pair extended their extraordinary winning run by defeating China’s Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian 21-12, 21-10 in the semifinals.

Winners: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia
Defeated: Zhu Yi Jun/Li Qian of China
Score: 21-12, 21-10
Round: China Masters semifinal

The Malaysians dictated the match from the beginning rather than waiting for the Chinese pair to make mistakes.

They applied pressure throughout the rallies and never allowed Zhu and Li to establish a rhythm.

Four Fingers Down, Hoo-Lai Want Five

Hoo has developed a simple celebration throughout the tournament — raising one additional finger after every victory.

One finger followed the opening-round win, two after the second round, three after the quarterfinals and four after Saturday’s semifinal victory.

Now there is only one number left.

“The first match was one finger, the second win two fingers, yesterday three, and this is the fourth. Hopefully tomorrow it will be five fingers,” Hoo said.

A fifth victory would give Hoo and Lai their first title together.

Hoo-Lai Have Defeated Four Pairs in Shenzhen

Their road to the final has been one of the most impressive stories of the tournament.

Hoo and Lai entered Shenzhen ranked only world No. 85 but repeatedly defeated opponents ranked well above them.

They opened by beating Hong Kong’s world No. 25 Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau before stunning China’s world No. 9 and sixth-seeded Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi.

In the quarterfinals, they defeated Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui 24-22, 21-5. Liu and Hsu had previously eliminated newly crowned French world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.

The semifinal then became Hoo and Lai’s most convincing victory yet, as they conceded just 22 points across two games against Zhu and Li.

First World Tour Final for Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing

The result gives Lai her first World Tour final with Hoo since the pair began competing together earlier this year.

Hoo has previously reached the China Masters final, doing so in 2024 alongside Cheng Su Yin.

For Lai, reaching the championship match after the pair’s recent development is a particularly satisfying achievement.

“I’m very happy right now. There’s no other feeling except happiness and pride. We knew this match wouldn’t be easy, so we just focused on every point,” Lai said.

Hoo also credited the pair’s preparation during a three-month break from competition.

The longer training period allowed them to work closely with their coaches and support team before returning to international badminton in Shenzhen.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Face World No. 1 Feng-Huang

The final challenge will be the biggest one yet.

Hoo and Lai will face China’s world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping for the Super 750 title.

A victory would complete an extraordinary five-match run and give the Malaysian pair their first championship together.

After four consecutive victories in Shenzhen, Hoo hopes the five-finger celebration will finally appear on finals day.

An Se Young Beats Akane Yamaguchi Again

In women’s singles, world No. 1 An Se Young continued her exceptional run by defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-15.

Winner: An Se Young of South Korea
Defeated: Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
Score: 21-13, 21-15
Round: China Masters semifinal

The match was a repeat of the recent World Championships final in New Delhi, where An also defeated Yamaguchi to capture her second world title.

An again controlled the contest in Shenzhen and advanced without dropping a game.

Tomoka Miyazaki Stuns Wang Zhi Yi

Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki will be An’s opponent in the final after producing a major victory against China’s second seed Wang Zhi Yi.

Miyazaki edged two extremely tight games 21-19, 23-21.

Winner: Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan
Defeated: Wang Zhi Yi of China
Score: 21-19, 23-21

The result sends Miyazaki into the championship match against the dominant Korean world No. 1.

2026 China Masters Women’s Singles Final

An Se Young of South Korea vs Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan

An will be chasing another major title and extending one of the longest winning runs of her career, while Miyazaki has an opportunity to claim a breakthrough victory over the sport’s leading women’s singles player.

Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King Fall Short in Men’s Doubles Semifinal

Malaysia’s Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King came agonizingly close to another final but were stopped by China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.

The Malaysians pushed the match to three games before losing 21-23, 21-17, 17-21 from their perspective.

Winners: He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu of China
Defeated: Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
Score: 23-21, 17-21, 21-17

He and Ren had earlier eliminated Malaysia’s Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai in the quarterfinals and have now beaten a second Malaysian combination in succession.

Satwik-Chirag End Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong’s Run

Malaysia’s other men’s doubles semifinalists Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong were also eliminated after a competitive three-game contest against India’s fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

The Indian pair won 21-16, 18-21, 21-11.

Winners: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India
Defeated: Nur Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia
Score: 21-16, 18-21, 21-11

Despite the defeat, reaching a first Super 750 semifinal together represented an impressive week for Nur Azriyn and Tan.

2026 China Masters Men’s Doubles Final

He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu of China vs Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India

The final will pit a resurgent Chinese combination against one of the most established men’s doubles pairs in international badminton.

Bao Li Jing-Cao Zi Han Upset Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian

China will have a women’s doubles finalist through Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han, who produced an impressive semifinal victory over fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian.

Bao and Cao won 21-14, 21-13 in straight games.

Winners: Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han of China
Defeated: Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian of China
Score: 21-14, 21-13

Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi Win All-Japanese Thriller

The other women’s doubles semifinal was considerably closer.

Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi recovered after losing an extraordinary 24-26 opening game to defeat fellow Japanese pair Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto 24-26, 21-16, 21-16.

Winners: Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
Defeated: Sayaka Hirota/Ayako Sakuramoto of Japan
Score: 24-26, 21-16, 21-16

2026 China Masters Women’s Doubles Final

Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han of China vs Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan

China and Japan will therefore contest the women’s doubles championship after both finalists came through very different semifinal matches.

China Masters Finals Set After Historic Badminton Semifinal Day

The men’s singles story will command much of the attention on finals day.

For the first time in the BWF World Tour era, two Hong Kong men’s singles players will face each other for a tour title.

Jason Gunawan arrives after a career-changing tournament in which he defeated Jonatan Christie, Weng Hongyang and Anders Antonsen. Lee Cheuk Yiu has taken a more controlled path and now has an opportunity to add one of the biggest titles of his career.

Malaysia, meanwhile, will look to Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing, whose remarkable run from world No. 85 has taken them all the way to a Super 750 final.

An Se Young remains the player to beat in women’s singles, while Tomoka Miyazaki will attempt to produce the biggest upset of the championship weekend.

From Hong Kong’s historic men’s singles breakthrough to Hoo and Lai’s five-finger title dream, the 2026 China Masters finals are set to provide another major day of badminton in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen, China: Malaysia enjoyed a memorable quarterfinal day at the 2026 China Masters as four doubles combinations booked places in the semifinals, led by the remarkable run of Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing.

The world No. 85 mixed doubles pair continued to defy the rankings by defeating their third consecutive higher-ranked opponents, while Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie, Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King and Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong also advanced to the last four of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.

Elsewhere in Shenzhen, women’s singles world No. 1 An Se Young continued her dominant run, while Jason Gunawan, Anders Antonsen, Lee Cheuk Yiu and Christo Popov secured the four men’s singles semifinal spots.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Reach First Super 750 Semifinal

Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing have become one of the biggest stories of the China Masters.

The Malaysian independent pair defeated Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui 24-22, 21-5 in the quarterfinals to reach their first Super 750 semifinal as a partnership.

The opening game proved decisive.

Hoo and Lai trailed 18-20 and faced two game points, but refused to surrender. They fought back to level the score and eventually took the game 24-22 before completely dominating the second 21-5.

Winners: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia
Defeated: Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui of Chinese Taipei
Score: 24-22, 21-5
Round: China Masters quarterfinals

Liu and Hsu had already created one of the tournament’s biggest upsets when they eliminated newly crowned French world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the opening round.

But their giant-killing run ended against another unseeded pair in Hoo and Lai.

Hoo-Lai Have Beaten Three Higher-Ranked Pairs in Shenzhen

The victory continued an extraordinary week for Hoo and Lai, who entered the China Masters ranked only world No. 85.

All three of their opponents so far have been ranked significantly above them.

First round: Beat world No. 25 Chan Yin Chak/Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong
Round of 16: Beat world No. 9 and sixth seeds Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi of China
Quarterfinal: Beat world No. 48 Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui of Chinese Taipei

The Malaysian pair only began competing together in late May and reached the semifinals of the Macau Open Super 300 in June.

After spending around three months away from competition as a pair, they have returned in Shenzhen without losing their momentum.

This is now their first semifinal at the Super 750 level.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing to Face Zhu Yi Jun-Li Qian

Hoo and Lai will next face China’s world No. 28 pair Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian for a place in the final.

The Chinese combination advanced after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin in straight games.

After overcoming three higher-ranked combinations already, Hoo and Lai will have another opportunity to continue one of the most unexpected runs of the tournament.

Watch Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing China Masters Quarterfinal Highlights

Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie Reach First Semifinal of 2026

Malaysia’s other independent mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie also reached the semifinals with an impressive straight-games victory.

The eighth seeds defeated China’s world No. 29 Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying 21-15, 21-11.

It was their second consecutive victory over the Chinese combination following their previous meeting at last year’s Korea Open.

Winners: Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie of Malaysia
Defeated: Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying of China
Score: 21-15, 21-11

The husband-and-wife partnership has now reached its first semifinal of the season.

Goh-Lai Face World No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping

A much tougher challenge awaits in the semifinals.

Goh and Lai will meet China’s world No. 1 pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.

Feng and Huang needed three games to defeat Chinese Taipei’s seventh seeds Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan 21-10, 15-21, 21-12.

The Malaysian pair will therefore need another high-quality performance if they are to reach the China Masters final.

Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong Produce Another Upset

Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong continued Malaysia’s successful day by stunning Indonesia’s sixth seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani.

The Malaysian independent pair prevailed 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 in a tense three-game contest.

Winners: Nur Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia
Defeated: Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia
Score: 21-17, 16-21, 21-19

Ranked world No. 28, Nur Azriyn and Tan have now reached their first Super 750 semifinal together.

Their run has included several impressive victories and provides another boost for Malaysia’s already competitive men’s doubles group.

Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong to Challenge Satwik-Chirag

The Malaysians will next face India’s fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

The Indian stars defeated former world No. 1 Danish pair Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 in their quarterfinal.

That semifinal should provide a major test for Nur Azriyn and Tan against one of the most experienced and physically powerful men’s doubles partnerships in world badminton.

Watch Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong Quarterfinal Highlights

Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King Reach China Masters Semifinals

Malaysia’s experimental combination Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King also continued their strong campaign.

They defeated Japan’s world No. 28 Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami 21-13, 19-21, 21-12.

After taking the opening game comfortably, Tee and Yap were pushed into a decider but regained control in the third game to secure their semifinal place.

Winners: Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
Defeated: Takumi Nomura/Yuichi Shimogami of Japan
Score: 21-13, 19-21, 21-12

Tee-Yap Can Avenge Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai Defeat

Tee and Yap will next face China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.

The Chinese pair advanced by eliminating Malaysia’s experimental combination Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai 21-16, 17-21, 21-16.

Tee and Yap will therefore have the opportunity to avenge their teammates’ quarterfinal defeat while trying to reach another final following their Korea Masters title.

Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai Experiment Ends in Quarterfinals

Soh and 19-year-old Aaron Tai ended their China Masters run after a competitive three-game battle against He and Ren.

Winners: He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu of China
Defeated: Soh Wooi Yik/Aaron Tai of Malaysia
Score: 21-16, 17-21, 21-16

Although the partnership ends without a title, Aaron once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of Malaysia’s most promising young doubles players.

He reached the Taipei Open final alongside former world champion Aaron Chia before partnering another former world champion, Soh Wooi Yik, in Shenzhen.

Soh and Aaron Tai defeated Japan’s Hiroki Okamura and Kyohei Yamashita in the first round before scoring an impressive 21-13, 21-18 victory over China’s world No. 10 Chen Boyang and Liu Yi.

With Soh expected to reunite with long-time partner Aaron Chia for Malaysia’s push toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the China Masters brought the short-term Soh-Aaron Tai experiment to an end.

Jason Gunawan Continues Breakthrough China Masters Run

In men’s singles, Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan continued his career-best run by defeating defending champion Weng Hongyang of China.

Jason won 21-18, 21-13 to reach the semifinals.

Winner: Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong
Defeated: Weng Hongyang of China
Score: 21-18, 21-13

The result followed Jason’s shock round-of-16 victory over newly crowned world No. 1 Jonatan Christie.

After reaching his first Super 750 quarterfinal, the 22-year-old has now gone one step further by earning a place in the last four.

Anders Antonsen Comes Back to Beat Kunlavut Vitidsarn

Denmark’s fifth seed Anders Antonsen survived one of the most competitive men’s singles quarterfinals.

Thailand’s third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the opening game 21-18, but Antonsen responded to take the next two 21-17, 21-18.

Winner: Anders Antonsen of Denmark
Defeated: Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand
Score: 18-21, 21-17, 21-18

Antonsen will meet Jason Gunawan in the semifinals, pitting the experienced Danish star against one of the tournament’s biggest surprise performers.

Lee Cheuk Yiu Beats Kidambi Srikanth

Hong Kong secured a second men’s singles semifinalist through Lee Cheuk Yiu.

Lee defeated India’s former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth 21-16, 21-16.

Winner: Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong
Defeated: Kidambi Srikanth of India
Score: 21-16, 21-16

Lee will next face France’s Christo Popov for a place in the final.

Christo Popov Ends Kodai Naraoka’s Run

France’s second seed Christo Popov produced one of the most convincing performances of the quarterfinals, defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-10, 21-14.

Naraoka had reached the final of the recent World Championships and entered Shenzhen in strong form, but Popov controlled the contest from start to finish.

Winner: Christo Popov of France
Defeated: Kodai Naraoka of Japan
Score: 21-10, 21-14

China Masters Men’s Singles Semifinals

Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong vs Anders Antonsen of Denmark
Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong vs Christo Popov of France

Hong Kong therefore has two representatives among the four remaining men’s singles players.

An Se Young Dominates Kim Ga Eun

Women’s singles world No. 1 An Se Young showed no signs of slowing down as she overwhelmed Korean teammate Kim Ga Eun 21-11, 21-10.

Winner: An Se Young of South Korea
Defeated: Kim Ga Eun of South Korea
Score: 21-11, 21-10

An entered the quarterfinals carrying a 30-match winning streak and is chasing a third consecutive China Masters title.

Her next match will be considerably more difficult, however, as she faces three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi.

Akane Yamaguchi Sets Up An Se Young Semifinal

Japan’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi defeated Thailand’s Supanida Katethong 21-18, 21-16.

Winner: Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
Defeated: Supanida Katethong of Thailand
Score: 21-18, 21-16

The result sets up another blockbuster encounter between An and Yamaguchi, who also met in the 2026 World Championships final in New Delhi.

An won that championship match and will again be favored based on her extraordinary current form, but Yamaguchi remains one of the few players capable of consistently testing the Korean world No. 1.

Tomoka Miyazaki Continues Strong Run

Japan will have a second representative in the women’s singles semifinals after Tomoka Miyazaki defeated Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova.

The Japanese youngster won comfortably 21-12, 21-11.

Winner: Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan
Defeated: Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria
Score: 21-12, 21-11

Miyazaki will face China’s second seed Wang Zhi Yi in the semifinals.

Wang Zhi Yi Cruises Past Nozomi Okuhara

Wang Zhi Yi produced the most dominant scoreline of the women’s singles quarterfinals.

The Chinese second seed defeated former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-6, 21-10.

Winner: Wang Zhi Yi of China
Defeated: Nozomi Okuhara of Japan
Score: 21-6, 21-10

Wang will now carry China’s hopes into a semifinal against Miyazaki.

China Masters Women’s Singles Semifinals

An Se Young of South Korea vs Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan vs Wang Zhi Yi of China

Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian Lead China Into Women’s Doubles Semifinals

In women’s doubles, China’s fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian advanced comfortably by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun 21-12, 21-11.

Winners: Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian of China
Defeated: Hsu Yin-Hui/Lin Jhih Yun of Chinese Taipei
Score: 21-12, 21-11

They will face another Chinese pair, Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han, in the semifinals.

Bao Li Jing-Cao Zi Han Eliminate American Pair

Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han reached the last four with a 21-12, 21-15 victory over Francesca Corbett and Jennie Gai of the United States.

Winners: Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han of China
Defeated: Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai of the United States
Score: 21-12, 21-15

The result guarantees China one place in the women’s doubles final.

Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi Survive 25-23 Decider

Japan’s Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi survived one of the closest matches of the quarterfinal stage against China’s Luo Yi and Wang Ting Ge.

The Japanese pair won the first game 21-10 before the Chinese combination responded 21-13.

The deciding game went beyond 21 points before Nakade and Takahashi finally secured a dramatic 25-23 victory.

Winners: Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
Defeated: Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge of China
Score: 21-10, 13-21, 25-23

Hirota-Sakuramoto Complete All-Japanese Semifinal

Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto also advanced after coming from behind against Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard.

The Thai sisters took the opening game 21-19, but Hirota and Sakuramoto responded with 21-13 and 21-18 victories.

Winners: Sayaka Hirota/Ayako Sakuramoto of Japan
Defeated: Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand
Score: 19-21, 21-13, 21-18

The result sets up an all-Japanese semifinal against Nakade and Takahashi.

China Masters Women’s Doubles Semifinals

Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian of China vs Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han of China
Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan vs Sayaka Hirota/Ayako Sakuramoto of Japan

Malaysia Enjoys Major China Masters Breakthrough

The biggest Malaysian badminton story heading into the semifinals is the sheer number of doubles combinations still alive.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing have reached their first Super 750 semifinal after beating three consecutive higher-ranked opponents. Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie are into their first semifinal of the year, while Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong and Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King have also reached the last four in men’s doubles.

The performances provide another reminder of Malaysia’s considerable depth in doubles, even as the national setup continues experimenting with different partnerships.

Hoo and Lai’s run has been especially striking. Ranked outside the world’s top 80, they are now only one victory away from a Super 750 final.

With An Se Young preparing for another showdown against Akane Yamaguchi, two Hong Kong players reaching the men’s singles semifinals and Malaysia carrying four doubles pairs into the last four, the 2026 China Masters is set for an intriguing semifinal day in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen, China: Malaysia’s experimental men’s doubles combination Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai continued their impressive run at the 2026 China Masters on Thursday, while women’s singles world No. 1 An Se Young stretched her remarkable winning streak to 30 matches.

The BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament also produced another major upset as newly crowned men’s singles world No. 1 Jonatan Christie was eliminated by Hong Kong youngster Jason Gunawan.

Malaysia enjoyed a productive day in doubles, with Soh-Aaron, Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King, Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie all advancing to the quarterfinals.

However, Malaysia’s women’s doubles campaign came to an end after both Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan and Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah were eliminated in the second round.

Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai Beat World No. 10 Chen Boyang-Liu Yi

Watch highlights of Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai vs. Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in the 2026 China Masters Round of 16:

Soh and Aaron delivered another encouraging performance in only their first tournament together.

The Malaysian pair needed just 40 minutes to defeat China’s world No. 10 Chen Boyang and Liu Yi 21-13, 21-18 in the round of 16.

It was their second consecutive victory in Shenzhen after recovering from a game down to defeat Japan’s Hiroki Okamura and Kyohei Yamashita 18-21, 21-12, 21-15 in the opening round.

The straight-games win over a top-10 Chinese combination provided another strong indication that the newly created Malaysian partnership could be competitive at the highest level of international badminton.

19-Year-Old Aaron Tai Continues to Impress

Much of the attention is falling on 19-year-old Aaron Tai, who continues to show his potential when paired with Malaysia’s more experienced former world champions.

At the Taipei Open last month, Aaron partnered Aaron Chia and reached the men’s doubles final.

He is now enjoying another strong tournament alongside Soh Wooi Yik, giving Malaysia’s coaching team more evidence of his ability to compete with established international combinations.

Soh and Aaron will face another Chinese pair, Ren Xiang Yu and He Ji Ting, in the quarterfinals after the home combination won an all-Chinese encounter against Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi.

Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King Also Reach Quarterfinals

Malaysia’s other experimental men’s doubles combination Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King also advanced in straight games.

They defeated Indonesia’s world No. 30 Ali Faathir Rayhan and Devin Artha Wahyudi 21-16, 21-19.

Tee and Yap will next meet Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami for a place in the semifinals.

The result means two of Malaysia’s newly tested men’s doubles combinations have successfully reached the last eight of the Super 750 event.

Nur Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong Win All-Malaysian Battle

Independent pair Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong also booked their quarterfinal place after surviving a three-game battle against compatriots Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi.

Nur Azriyn and Tan prevailed 21-18, 16-21, 21-17 to win the all-Malaysian encounter.

The result continued an encouraging tournament for the experienced Tan and his partner after they had earlier eliminated Malaysia’s experimental combination Aaron Chia and Man Wei Chong.

Pearly Tan-Thinaah Lose Again to Aimsaard Sisters

Malaysia’s women’s doubles campaign ended on a disappointing note, beginning with Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan’s narrow defeat against Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard.

After receiving a first-round bye, Pearly and Thinaah were pushed into a 67-minute battle before losing 16-21, 21-17, 19-21.

The defeat was particularly frustrating because it marked their second consecutive loss to the Thai sisters.

Benyapa and Nuntakarn had also defeated the Malaysians at the Singapore Open in May.

The career head-to-head between the pairs is now level at 2-2.

Pearly and Thinaah won their first two meetings at the 2021 Thailand Open and 2023 Hong Kong Open, but the Thai sisters have now taken the two most recent encounters.

Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Fall to Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian

Malaysia’s younger combination Low Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah also saw their campaign end in the second round.

They faced China’s world No. 4 pair Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian and were beaten 21-13, 21-16 in 39 minutes.

The match provided the Malaysian youngsters with valuable experience against one of the strongest women’s doubles combinations in world badminton.

With both Malaysian pairs eliminated, the country no longer has a representative in the China Masters women’s doubles draw.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Continue Giant-Killing Run

One of Malaysia’s best stories in Shenzhen has been the unexpected run of Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing.

The independent mixed doubles pair entered the tournament ranked only world No. 85, but they have now eliminated two considerably higher-ranked opponents.

After defeating Hong Kong’s world No. 25 Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau in three games in the opening round, Hoo and Lai stunned China’s sixth seeds and world No. 9 Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi 24-22, 21-19.

The straight-games victory sent the Malaysians into the quarterfinals of the Super 750 tournament.

Their next opponents will be Chinese Taipei’s world No. 48 Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui.

Liu and Hsu have already produced one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, eliminating newly crowned French world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the first round.

Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie Reach Last Eight

Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie also kept Malaysia’s mixed doubles challenge alive.

The world No. 11 husband-and-wife combination defeated Japan’s Akira Koga and Natsu Saito 21-14, 19-21, 21-10.

Seeded eighth in Shenzhen, Goh and Lai will next face China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying.

The Chinese pair reached the quarterfinals after winning a three-game all-Chinese clash against third seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.

An Se Young Extends Winning Streak to 30 Matches

In women’s singles, world No. 1 An Se Young continued her extraordinary season with another dominant performance.

The top seed and two-time defending China Masters champion defeated China’s Han Qian Xi 21-14, 21-7 to reach the quarterfinals.

An has now won 30 consecutive matches since finishing runner-up at the All England in March.

Her 2026 record improved to 46 wins and just one defeat, excluding withdrawals.

The reigning Olympic champion and newly crowned two-time world champion is now only three victories away from successfully completing a third consecutive China Masters title run.

An Se Young to Face Kim Ga Eun

An’s quarterfinal will be an all-Korean encounter against Kim Ga Eun.

Kim defeated Denmark’s Line Christophersen 21-17, 21-19 to secure her place in the last eight.

An will enter the match as the clear favorite based on her extraordinary form, but an encounter against a national teammate can present a different tactical challenge because of the players’ familiarity with each other.

Wang Zhi Yi Ends Malaysia’s Singles Challenge

Malaysia’s final remaining singles representative was eliminated by China’s second seed Wang Zhi Yi.

World No. 31 Letshanaa was unable to seriously trouble the home favorite, with Wang winning 21-10, 21-8.

The result was Wang’s fourth consecutive victory over the Malaysian and officially ended Malaysia’s singles participation at the China Masters.

Wang will next face former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

Okuhara booked her quarterfinal spot with a 21-18, 21-14 victory over Canada’s Michelle Li.

Ratchanok Intanon Stunned by Kaloyana Nalbantova

Thailand’s sixth seed Ratchanok Intanon became another big name to fall before the quarterfinals.

The former world champion was upset by 20-year-old Bulgarian Kaloyana Nalbantova, who continued one of the biggest runs of her young career.

Nalbantova will next meet Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki, who eliminated Indian youngster Tanvi Sharma.

The match offers both young players a major opportunity to reach the semifinals of a Super 750 tournament.

Akane Yamaguchi to Meet Supanida Katethong

Japan’s third seed Akane Yamaguchi also reached the quarterfinals and will face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong.

Supanida defeated Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Pin-Chian 29-27, 21-15 in a match featuring an extraordinary opening game.

Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion and the runner-up at the recent World Championships in New Delhi, remains one of the leading contenders in the women’s singles draw.

World No. 1 Jonatan Christie Stunned by Jason Gunawan

The biggest men’s singles upset came when Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan defeated newly crowned world No. 1 Jonatan Christie.

Watch highlights of Jonatan Christie vs. Jason Gunawan in the 2026 China Masters Round of 16:

Jason beat the Indonesian top seed 21-16, 21-16 in their first career meeting.

The result came just days after Jonatan officially rose to world No. 1 on August 25.

The 28-year-old became Indonesia’s first men’s singles world No. 1 since Taufik Hidayat, ending a wait of approximately 26 years.

However, his first tournament after reaching the top ranking ended in the round of 16.

Jason Gunawan Reaches First Super 750 Quarterfinal

For 22-year-old Jason, the victory represents a major breakthrough.

The Hong Kong player, ranked world No. 32, reached his first Super 750 quarterfinal by defeating the top seed in straight games.

Jason will next face China’s defending champion Weng Hongyang.

Weng survived a difficult second-round match against Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew, winning 21-18, 11-21, 21-17.

The quarterfinal gives Jason another opportunity to test himself against a leading Chinese player after producing the biggest men’s singles victory of his career against Jonatan.

Kidambi Srikanth Stops Victor Lai

Canada’s 21-year-old rising star Victor Lai was unable to continue his run after losing to Indian veteran Kidambi Srikanth.

The 33-year-old Srikanth defeated Lai 21-18, 21-19 to record his first victory in their head-to-head series.

Srikanth will next face Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.

Lee reached the quarterfinals after edging France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-19, 24-22.

Kunlavut Vitidsarn Sets Up Clash With Anders Antonsen

Thailand’s third seed and former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn progressed with a 21-17, 21-12 victory over China’s Lu Guang Zu.

Kunlavut will meet Denmark’s fifth seed Anders Antonsen in one of the strongest men’s singles quarterfinal matchups.

Antonsen secured his place by defeating Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in straight games.

Kodai Naraoka Continues Strong Form

Japan’s Kodai Naraoka also continued the form that carried him to the World Championships final in New Delhi.

The eighth seed defeated Canada’s Brian Yang 21-16, 21-11 to advance comfortably.

Naraoka will face France’s second seed Christo Popov in the quarterfinals.

The Japanese star had already eliminated China’s Li Shifeng 21-18, 21-7 in the opening round and has now reached the last eight without dropping a game.

Malaysia Sends Five Doubles Pairs Into China Masters Quarterfinals

Despite losing its remaining singles players and both women’s doubles combinations, Malaysia still has a strong presence heading into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Men’s doubles: Soh Wooi Yik/Aaron Tai
Men’s doubles: Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King
Men’s doubles: Nur Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Kiong
Mixed doubles: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing
Mixed doubles: Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie

Soh and Aaron’s performance will attract particular attention because the partnership is still in its experimental stage.

After two victories — including a straight-games win over a world top-10 combination — the pair have already demonstrated that the eight-year age gap has not prevented them from developing an effective partnership.

China Masters Quarterfinals Set After Upset-Filled Opening Rounds

The first three days in Shenzhen have produced one surprise after another.

World No. 1 men’s doubles pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae were eliminated in the first round, newly crowned mixed doubles world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue followed them out, and leading men’s singles players Shi Yuqi, Li Shifeng and now Jonatan Christie have also fallen early.

At the same time, several new names have taken advantage.

Jason Gunawan has reached his first Super 750 quarterfinal, Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing are producing an unlikely run from world No. 85, and Malaysia’s new Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai combination has defeated a world top-10 pair in only its second match of the tournament.

An Se Young, however, continues to provide the biggest sense of stability in an otherwise unpredictable week of badminton.

With 30 consecutive victories and a 46-1 season record, the Korean world No. 1 remains firmly on course for a third straight China Masters title.

China: The 2026 BWF World Championships may prove to be a turning point for Chinese badminton, with the national setup preparing to place greater emphasis on developing its next generation of players during the second half of the season.

China left New Delhi with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang delivered the country’s only title by winning the men’s doubles championship, but disappointing results in both men’s and women’s singles have intensified questions about the depth of talent behind the established stars.

Rather than treating the World Championships results as a one-off setback, the Chinese badminton program is expected to use the remainder of 2026 to accelerate the development of younger players and begin addressing the growing gap between its experienced stars and the next generation.

Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Deliver China’s Only World Title

The strongest result for China in New Delhi came from men’s doubles, where Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang captured the World Championships title.

The Chinese pair defeated Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-16 in the final, ending China’s eight-year wait for another men’s doubles world crown.

World champions: Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang of China
Runners-up: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia
Score: 21-17, 21-16
Achievement: China’s first men’s doubles world title since 2018

Their victory gave China something significant to celebrate, but it could not completely hide the problems exposed elsewhere in the squad.

Chinese Men’s Singles Endures Difficult World Championships

Men’s singles produced the biggest concerns.

Top seed Shi Yuqi suffered one of the tournament’s biggest upsets when he was eliminated in the opening round by American-based teenager Garret Tan’s generation peer Ayush Shetty of India, losing 14-21, 21-13, 19-21.

Weng Hongyang, seeded 16th, also exited in the first round after losing to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka.

Li Shifeng was the only Chinese men’s singles player to advance beyond the opening stage, but his campaign ended in the round of 16.

The result meant China failed to place a men’s singles player in the World Championships quarterfinals for the first time in more than three decades, underlining how unusual the tournament was for a country with such a rich history in the discipline.

Age Profile Raises Questions About China’s Men’s Singles Future

The results have also brought renewed attention to the age profile of China’s leading men’s singles players.

Shi Yuqi is now 30, while Weng Hongyang and Li Shifeng are both in their mid-to-late twenties.

All three remain capable of producing high-level badminton, but the World Championships squad did not include a men’s singles player under the age of 23.

That creates an important question for the next Olympic cycle: who will eventually take over when the current generation begins to decline?

Shi has dealt with injuries and the physical demands of many seasons at the highest level, while Li and Weng have both shown the quality to beat elite opposition but have not always produced that level consistently at major championships.

Women’s Singles Also Faces Generational Challenge

The situation is not limited to men’s singles.

China’s leading women’s singles players Chen Yu Fei, Han Yue and Wang Zhi Yi remain among the strongest competitors on the BWF World Tour, but they are also carrying much of the responsibility for the national team.

Wang was China’s best-performing women’s singles player in New Delhi, reaching the semifinals and earning a bronze medal.

Chen, however, was eliminated earlier than expected, while the women’s singles title again went elsewhere as South Korea’s An Se Young defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final.

An has become the clearest example of how quickly a younger player can establish control of the international game. The Olympic champion and two-time world champion is already firmly established at the top of women’s badminton while several countries continue introducing younger challengers.

China Needs Its Next Generation to Gain International Experience

The concern for Chinese badminton is not necessarily a lack of talented junior players.

The bigger issue is whether those players are receiving enough meaningful competition against the world’s best.

Young prospects such as Hu Zhe An, Zhu Xuan Chen, Dong Tian Yao, Xu Wen Jing and Yuan An Qi represent part of the next group China hopes can eventually challenge for major international titles.

However, many younger players spend much of their time competing at lower-level tournaments before being expected to make a significant jump when they eventually enter Super 500, Super 750, Super 1000 or major championship competition.

That difference in competitive intensity can be enormous.

More Super 100, 300 and 500 Opportunities Expected for Young Players

One of the clearest priorities for the second half of the season is expected to be providing younger Chinese players with a more structured international schedule.

Instead of protecting ranking points or prioritizing immediate results, China could increasingly use Super 100, Super 300 and Super 500 events as development opportunities.

The objective would be to expose younger players to different opponents, playing conditions and tactical styles while gradually improving their world rankings.

Early defeats would be part of that process.

A player who regularly faces international opposition at 18, 19 or 20 will generally be better prepared for the pressure of a World Championships or Olympic Games several years later than someone whose international exposure has been limited.

China May Need to Accept Short-Term Badminton Results

That approach also requires a change in expectations.

Chinese badminton has traditionally been judged almost entirely by championships and gold medals. For decades, anything less could be viewed as failure.

But rebuilding depth requires patience.

If younger players are given more high-level tournaments, some will lose early. Others may struggle for a season or two before adapting to the speed, physicality and psychological pressure of senior international badminton.

The benefit only becomes visible later, when those same players are expected to compete for major titles.

Technical Development Alone Will Not Be Enough

Another priority should be preparing young players for the psychological demands of elite badminton.

Many talented juniors look impressive when they are controlling rallies and playing from ahead. The real test comes when they fall behind, lose several points in succession or face an experienced opponent who changes tactics during a match.

That is where World Tour experience becomes difficult to replace with training alone.

China is expected to place greater emphasis on areas such as handling pressure at 18-18 or 19-19, recovering after losing an opening game, changing tactics during difficult periods and maintaining discipline when opponents successfully disrupt the original game plan.

More Competition Between China’s First and Second Teams

Creating a clearer route from the second team into the senior international squad could also become increasingly important.

Young players performing well should have opportunities to move into larger tournaments rather than waiting simply because more experienced players hold higher positions in the existing hierarchy.

Greater internal competition would benefit both generations.

Younger players would have a realistic path toward elite tournaments, while established stars would know that strong performances remain necessary to retain the most valuable international entries.

China Is Not Ready to Move on From Its Veterans

A greater emphasis on youth does not mean experienced stars such as Shi Yuqi or Chen Yu Fei will suddenly disappear from major tournaments.

China still needs its established players.

They provide leadership, ranking strength and the ability to win medals while younger players develop.

The more realistic strategy is a gradual transition in which veterans continue competing at selected major tournaments while an increasing number of international entries are allocated to younger prospects.

That would reduce the need to overuse senior players while giving the next generation the competitive experience it needs.

Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Show Why Patience Matters

China’s newly crowned men’s doubles world champions provide a useful example of why players sometimes need time before delivering their biggest result.

Liang and Wang experienced defeats in major finals and considerable pressure before finally winning the World Championships in New Delhi.

Their development was not a straight line.

By continuing to compete against the best partnerships in world badminton, they accumulated the experience necessary to eventually convert a major opportunity into a world title.

China’s singles prospects may require the same patience.

World Championships Expose China’s Singles Depth Problem

For years, China could rely on extraordinary depth in singles.

When one star struggled, another was usually ready to replace them.

The 2026 World Championships demonstrated that the current situation is different.

The leading players remain dangerous, but there is a noticeable gap between the established national-team stars and the younger players trying to break into the highest level.

Closing that gap could become one of the most important projects in Chinese badminton over the next two seasons.

Next Olympic Cycle Requires Decisions Now

The timing is significant because Los Angeles 2028 is only two years away.

Players who are expected to challenge for Olympic medals cannot begin receiving major international experience in 2028.

They need that exposure now.

The second half of 2026 and the 2027 season therefore represent an important development window, particularly for players born in the early-to-mid 2000s who could enter their prime during the next Olympic cycle.

Chinese Badminton Faces Painful but Necessary Transition

There is no guarantee that a stronger youth-development strategy will immediately restore China’s dominance.

South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, France, India and several other badminton nations now have players capable of winning major international titles.

The competitive landscape is broader than it was during some of China’s most dominant periods.

That makes developing multiple generations of players at the same time even more important.

World Championships Setback Could Become Turning Point

China’s one gold, two silver and two bronze medals in New Delhi would represent an excellent World Championships for many countries.

For Chinese badminton, however, the standard has historically been much higher.

The deeper concern is not simply the number of medals. It is the warning signs behind the results, particularly in singles.

Shi Yuqi and Weng Hongyang falling in the opening round, Li Shifeng missing the quarterfinals and China once again failing to win the women’s singles title all highlight the need to look beyond immediate tournament results.

Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang demonstrated that China can still produce world champions.

The next challenge is ensuring there are enough players developing behind the current stars to keep doing it.

China’s Next Badminton Champions Need Opportunities Now

The second half of 2026 could therefore become less about protecting short-term results and more about preparing the players who will define Chinese badminton in the years ahead.

That means giving young athletes meaningful international competition, allowing them to make mistakes, improving their ability to handle pressure and creating genuine competition for places within the national team.

The transition may produce inconsistent results in the short term.

But after the warning delivered by the 2026 World Championships, China appears to have little reason to delay.

The established stars can continue carrying part of the load, but the next generation needs to start gaining serious international badminton experience now if China wants to rebuild the depth that once made it the sport’s dominant power.