Badminton News: Denmark Open: China dominates and takes four gold medals

Chinese shuttlers advanced to the championship match in four categories, with women’s doubles and mixed doubles being all-Chinese affairs.

The world's no. 44 Shi Yuqi of China won the men’s singles title after beating the world's no. 3 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia 21-18, 16-21, 21-12 at Jyske Bank Arena in Odense, Denmark, on October 23, clinching his maiden tour-level title in over three years.

After winning the first set comfortably, the 26-year-old Chinese shuttler was dragged into long rallies by his Malaysian opponent in the second. Lee Zii Jia won the second set 16-21 to force the match into a decider. 

However, Shi Yuqi regained momentum early in the set and played fiercely to beat the much higher-ranked Malaysian.

In the women’s singles final, the world no. nine He Bingjiao of China secured a 22-20, 12-21, 21-10. Victory over compatriot the world no. four Chen Yufei to win the title.

The mixed doubles final was another all-Chinese affair, with Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei locking horns with Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe.

Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei withstood fierce pressure from their compatriots to win the opening set 21-19, but Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe returned by winning the second set 22-20 to force the match into a decider.

The Chinese pairing of Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siweieventually won the match 21-19, 22-20, 21-19 after one hour and eight minutes of the thrilling clash.

In the women’s doubles final, the world no. two pairing of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China won the gold after beating Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na of South Korea in straight sets 21-12, 21-15 after just 40 minutes of play.

Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia were the only non-Chinese players to win the gold at the Denmark Open. The Indonesian duo won the men’s doubles title after beating compatriots Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo 21-19, 28-26 in the championship match.