Xiamen, April 28 – Host nation China and Thailand both booked their spots in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Sudirman Cup after claiming dominant victories in their second Group A matches today.
China, the 13-time Sudirman Cup champions, followed up their 5-0 opening win over Algeria with another commanding performance against Hong Kong.
Against Hong Kong, China rotated its lineup slightly, keeping top men’s singles player Shi Yuqi in action but fielding fresh faces in the other four events. Meanwhile, Hong Kong broke up their top-ranked mixed doubles pair, partnering Tang Chun Man with Ng Tsz Yau instead of Tse Ying Suet.
In the opening mixed doubles match, world No.2s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping needed just 38 minutes to dispatch Tang Chun Man and Ng Tsz Yau 21-8, 21-8.
In women’s singles, Olympic gold medalist and world No.7 Chen Yufei breezed past world No.50 Lo Sin Yan with a ruthless 21-8, 21-4 victory.
The men’s singles match saw world No.1 Shi Yuqi take on Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Heading into the match, Shi had a narrow 6-5 head-to-head edge from 11 previous encounters.
Watch Highlights of Shi Yuqi vs. Lee Cheuk Yiu in the 2025 Sudirman Cup Group G tie:
However, Shi had to dig deep, battling over an hour before eventually winning 21-12, 20-22, 21-12 to give China an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Shi Yuqi: “Never Giving Up Was the Key”
Speaking after the match, Shi Yuqi said,
“I gave it everything today. I played quite well in the first game, but in the second, I started struggling physically when Lee pushed the pace. I couldn’t keep up with some shots. Thankfully, I kept fighting and stayed mentally strong in the third game to seal the win.”
Thailand Cruises Past Algeria
Meanwhile, Thailand also cruised to a 5-0 win over Algeria, despite resting several of their top stars, including reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, former women’s singles world champion Ratchanok Intanon, and elite mixed doubles duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Even with a second-string lineup, Thailand comfortably swept all five matches, demonstrating the squad’s impressive depth.
China and Thailand Set for Group A Decider
With two wins each, both China and Thailand have officially secured their spots in the quarterfinals. The two teams will now clash on Wednesday to determine who finishes atop Group A.
Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive badminton news as the 2025 Sudirman Cup action heats up!
