Shenzhen, China: Jason Gunawan completed a remarkable week for Hong Kong badminton on Sunday, defeating senior teammate Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-9, 21-16 to capture the men’s singles title at the 2026 China Masters.
The 22-year-old entered Shenzhen ranked world No. 32, but rankings meant little by the end of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.
Gunawan produced the biggest title of his young career in his first Super 750 final, while Lee’s runner-up finish completed a historic gold-and-silver sweep for Hong Kong.
Behind both players was former Malaysian star Wong Choong Hann, whose work with the Hong Kong men’s singles squad has helped build a group that now includes three dangerous international players: Lee Cheuk Yiu, Angus Ng Ka Long and Jason Gunawan.
Jason Gunawan Beats Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-9, 21-16
After the emotion surrounding Hong Kong securing both places in the final, Gunawan showed no hesitation once the championship match began.
He dominated the opening game against the more experienced Lee, taking it 21-9 and immediately putting himself within one game of the biggest title of his career.
Lee provided stronger resistance in the second game, but Gunawan maintained control and completed the victory 21-16.
- Champion: Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong
- Runner-up: Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong
- Score: 21-9, 21-16
- Tournament: 2026 China Masters
- Level: BWF World Tour Super 750
The result confirmed Gunawan as one of the biggest breakout performers in badminton this season.
Watch Jason Gunawan vs Lee Cheuk Yiu China Masters Final Highlights
Historic All-Hong Kong Men’s Singles Final
The final was significant even before the first shuttle was struck.
Gunawan and Lee had already created history by becoming the first two Hong Kong men’s singles players to face each other in a final during the HSBC BWF World Tour era.
That meant Hong Kong entered Sunday knowing the China Masters men’s singles gold and silver medals were already secured.
For a badminton program competing against traditional powers such as China, Indonesia, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, placing two players in the final of a Super 750 tournament represented an important breakthrough.
Wong Choong Hann Has Plenty to Be Proud Of
The achievement was also a major moment for Hong Kong coach Wong Choong Hann.
The former Malaysian men’s singles star became visibly emotional after Gunawan defeated Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the semifinal, knowing that the victory had completed the historic all-Hong Kong final.
Wong has now helped develop a men’s singles group with genuine depth rather than relying on only one leading player.
World No. 25 Lee Cheuk Yiu remains an established international threat, world No. 28 Angus Ng Ka Long brings years of top-level experience, and world No. 32 Gunawan has now demonstrated that his ranking does not fully reflect his ability.
Gunawan’s performances in Shenzhen showed that he is capable of defeating players far above him in the world rankings.
Jason Gunawan’s Road to the China Masters Title
The championship was not built on an easy draw.
Gunawan repeatedly defeated high-level opposition during the tournament and produced the type of run that can transform a player’s confidence and career.
One of his biggest victories came against newly crowned world No. 1 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the round of 16.
Gunawan defeated Jonatan 21-16, 21-16, handing the Indonesian star a disappointing exit in his first tournament after reaching the top of the world rankings.
Gunawan then faced defending China Masters champion Weng Hongyang in the quarterfinals.
Once again, the Hong Kong youngster delivered, beating the Chinese player 21-18, 21-13.
98-Minute Battle Against Anders Antonsen
If Gunawan’s earlier victories established him as the tournament’s surprise package, his semifinal against Anders Antonsen proved he could also survive a long, high-pressure battle against one of badminton’s most experienced stars.
The Danish fifth seed won the opening game 21-15, but Gunawan refused to let the match slip away.
He survived an intense second game 22-20 before taking the decider 21-16 after 98 minutes.
- Winner: Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong
- Defeated: Anders Antonsen of Denmark
- Score: 15-21, 22-20, 21-16
- Duration: 98 minutes
That victory sent Gunawan into his first Super 750 final and triggered an emotional reaction from Wong Choong Hann on the sidelines.
Lee Cheuk Yiu Also Produces Excellent China Masters Run
Lee Cheuk Yiu should not be overlooked simply because he finished runner-up.
The more experienced Hong Kong player also produced an excellent week in Shenzhen.
In the semifinals, Lee defeated France’s second seed Christo Popov 21-15, 21-19 to guarantee the historic Hong Kong showdown.
His presence in the championship match also highlighted the growing strength of Hong Kong men’s singles.
Rather than one player making an isolated breakthrough, Hong Kong had two players capable of navigating a Super 750 draw all the way to the final.
Three Strong Men’s Singles Options for Hong Kong
The most encouraging part of the China Masters result may be what it means beyond one tournament.
Hong Kong now has three recognizable men’s singles threats:
- Lee Cheuk Yiu: World No. 25
- Angus Ng Ka Long: World No. 28
- Jason Gunawan: World No. 32
World rankings can change quickly, but Gunawan’s title showed that he is already capable of playing well above his current position.
That gives Wong Choong Hann greater depth when preparing the team for major individual tournaments and team championships.
It also creates healthy internal competition between players who regularly train together but now know they can challenge elite international opposition.
An Se Young Wins Third Consecutive China Masters Title
While Hong Kong celebrated in men’s singles, South Korea’s An Se Young continued to dominate women’s badminton.
The world No. 1 defeated Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 21-6 to capture her third consecutive China Masters title.
- Champion: An Se Young of South Korea
- Runner-up: Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan
- Score: 21-17, 21-6
The opening game offered some resistance, but An completely controlled the second, allowing Miyazaki only six points.
Watch An Se Young vs Tomoka Miyazaki Highlights
An Se Young Extends Winning Streak to 33 Matches
An’s latest championship extended her winning streak to 33 matches.
The reigning Olympic and world champion has now won 49 of her 50 completed matches this season, with her only defeat coming against China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the All England final in March.
Perhaps even more impressive was the manner in which An won in Shenzhen.
She did not drop a single game throughout the tournament.
In the semifinals, An defeated three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-15 before overcoming Miyazaki in Sunday’s final.
The victory also made An the first player to capture the China Masters title three consecutive times.
Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping Stop Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing
Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing saw their remarkable mixed doubles run end one victory short of the title.
China’s world No. 1 pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping defeated the Malaysians 21-19, 21-16 in the final.
- Champions: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping of China
- Runners-up: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia
- Score: 21-19, 21-16
Despite missing out on the championship, Hoo and Lai can leave Shenzhen with one of the best results of their new partnership.
They entered the tournament ranked world No. 85 and defeated a series of higher-ranked combinations on their way to their first World Tour final together.
Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi Win Women’s Doubles
Japan captured the women’s doubles championship through Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi.
The Japanese pair defeated China’s Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han 21-18, 21-18 in the final.
- Champions: Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
- Runners-up: Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han of China
- Score: 21-18, 21-18
Nakade and Takahashi had already survived several difficult matches earlier in the tournament and finished the week with another composed straight-games performance.
Satwik-Chirag Fight Back to Win Men’s Doubles Title
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty captured the men’s doubles championship after recovering from a difficult opening game against China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.
The Chinese pair dominated the opener 21-11, but the fourth-seeded Indians responded strongly.
Satwik and Chirag took the second game 21-13 before completing the comeback 21-17 in the decider.
It’s worth mentioning Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty’s coach, Tan Kim Her, who is also from Malaysia.
- Champions: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India
- Runners-up: He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu of China
- Score: 11-21, 21-13, 21-17
2026 China Masters Champions
- Men’s Singles: Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong
- Women’s Singles: An Se Young of South Korea
- Men’s Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India
- Women’s Doubles: Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
- Mixed Doubles: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping of China
China Masters Could Be Turning Point for Hong Kong Badminton
Among all the results on finals day, Hong Kong’s men’s singles breakthrough may have the most significant long-term implications.
Jason Gunawan did more than win his first Super 750 championship.
He defeated elite opponents, survived a 98-minute semifinal, beat his experienced teammate in the final and demonstrated that he belongs in matches against the world’s leading players.
Lee Cheuk Yiu, meanwhile, reinforced his position as one of Hong Kong’s most reliable international performers by reaching another major final.
Combined with Angus Ng Ka Long, the results give Wong Choong Hann a group of three men’s singles players capable of competing at a high international level.
Wong Choong Hann’s Hong Kong Project Delivers Historic Result
For Wong, seeing Gunawan and Lee stand on opposite sides of the net in a Super 750 final was perhaps the clearest evidence yet of the progress being made within the Hong Kong program.
His emotional reaction after the semifinals showed how much the achievement meant.
Coaches are normally judged by what players produce on court, and in Shenzhen two of Wong’s protégés occupied both places in the final.
One became champion. The other took silver.
For Hong Kong badminton, it was difficult to imagine a better outcome.
Jason Gunawan leaves Shenzhen with the biggest title of his career, Lee Cheuk Yiu leaves with another major final appearance, and Wong Choong Hann leaves with evidence that Hong Kong now possesses genuine depth in men’s singles.
The rankings may still list Gunawan outside the world’s top 30, but his China Masters performance delivered a much more important message: on his best day, he has already shown that he can beat some of the strongest players in world badminton.
