Taipei: Taiwan's top male badminton player Chou Tien-chen achieved a significant victory by upsetting world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China on Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 China Open. This win marked the end of a nine-match losing streak against Shi.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chou had previously lost nine consecutive encounters with Shi, holding a 5-15 record in their career head-to-head meetings. His last victory over the Chinese player occurred during the men's team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which took place in 2023 due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the match at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Shi initially dominated the pace, taking a 13-6 lead in the first game. However, Chou responded with increased aggression, embarking on a 15-1 run to secure the opening game 21-14. In the second game, Chou's strategy of keeping rallies short was countered by Shi, who won 21-12.
Chou regained control in the deciding game, quickly establishing a 7-2 lead. Employing close-range smashes and quick net exchanges, he extended his lead to 18-10, ultimately winning the match 21-15. The contest lasted 61 minutes.
Following his victory, Chou expressed his intention to focus on resting and recovering quickly before his semifinal match against fellow Taiwanese player Lin Chun-yi, the men's singles champion at the All England Open in March. The China Open, a Badminton World Federation Super 1000 tournament, is being held in Jiangsu province from July 21-26.