China's proud Asiad men's singles tradition suffers after no medal show
KUALA LUMPUR: China’s 52-year tradition in badminton came to an end at Ichinomiya City when the badminton powerhouse failed to win a medal in the men’s singles for the first time.
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in 52 years, China's dominance in men's badminton singles at the Asian Games has ended. The powerhouse failed to secure a medal, marking a significant blow to their Asiad history. World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi and defending champion Li Shi Feng's exits were particularly heartbreaking, as they had been the team's main medal contenders.
The duo had fought for gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, with Li emerging victorious over Shi. In Japan, Shi Feng suffered a first-round loss to unranked Yoo Tae Bin, who advanced to the semi-finals. China has claimed the most men's singles golds in Asiad history with eight, while Indonesia closely follows with seven. Malaysia's sole title came at the 1970 Bangkok Games.
Yoo Tae Bin will face Singapore's world No. 13 Loh Kean Yew in the final. Meanwhile, Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand, who won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will battle it out with rising Indonesian star Alwi Farhan for the final spot. In women's singles, South Korea's world No. 1 An Se Young and China's world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi advanced to the medal rounds.
Se Young defeated Thai player Ratchanok Intanon, while Wang upset India's P. V. Sindhu. The Chinese team's world No. 2 will face Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the last four.
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