Shi Yuqi claimed his second India Open title this past Sunday, fighting through a tough match against Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu. The world number two from China dominated the final over 54 minutes, winning 23-21, 21-17, which adds to his previous success in New Delhi in 2018. This was Shi's second final appearance in a fortnight, following a second-place result in Malaysia. Throughout the match, he utilized a steady baseline approach and aggressive smashes to counter his opponent's resilience. After a narrow win in the first game, the 27-year-old faced a crisis in the second when Lee surged ahead with 10 straight points after trailing 6-14, but Shi managed to maintain his nerve and secure the championship.
Shi Yuqi won his second India Open badminton title on Sunday, overcoming a stiff challenge from Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. World No.2 Chinese shuttler produced a good fight and battled for 54 minutes to win the summit clash in straight games 23-21, 21-17, adding to his 2018 title in New Delhi. Shi, who was competing in his second final in two weeks following a second-place finish in Malaysia, maintained his baseline play and smashed against his tenacious opponent. After a hard-fought opening game, the 27-year-old Chinese player was pressed again in the second when Lee scored 10 straight points after trailing 6-14. However, Shi continued to play with confidence and held his nerve to emerge as the champion.
Despite some disputed calls that helped Lee Cheuk Yiu take the lead during the second game, Shi explained that staying patient allowed him to turn the tide. He emphasized that winning such a prestigious tournament is a significant achievement for his career. He also mentioned that while Viktor Axelsen holds the top world ranking, the sport is currently so competitive that anyone has a chance to become number one.
In the women's singles division, Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan beat the reigning Olympic gold medalist Chen Yu Fei (China) 21-16, 21-12 in a match that lasted 42 minutes. Although Chen—who had previously beaten Tai in the Tokyo Olympic final—started strong with a 7-1 lead, Tai fought back aggressively to take control as the crowd roared. While Chen managed to prolong the first set with some intense rallies, the 29-year-old Taiwanese player dominated the second set, sending a strong message to her competitors ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Tai admitted to feeling some nerves but mentioned that the crowd's energy really helped her. She expressed her determination to fight for a medal at the upcoming Olympics, acknowledging the difficulty of the task but stressing her commitment to hard work.
The women's doubles title went to Japan's Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, who comfortably beat the Chinese pair of Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu 21-12, 21-13. In the mixed doubles, Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai secured their victory by defeating China's Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin 21-16, 21-16.
It was a disappointing end for Indian sports fans as the top-seeded duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, lost a nail-biting men's doubles final. The title was taken by South Korean world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-Jae, who won with a score of 15-21, 21-11, 21-18.