Shanghai: Former world No. 1 Kento Momota showed that his trademark patience and court control remain intact after coming from behind to win the men’s singles title at the 2026 YONEX Shanghai Open.
The Japanese badminton star defeated Chinese player Ren Chengming 8-15, 15-13, 15-7 in the final at Shanghai Stadium, completing a memorable championship run at the two-day tournament.
Momota’s appearance was one of the biggest attractions at this year’s Shanghai Open, which brought together amateur players, university athletes, provincial-level competitors and established international names.
A total of 512 players qualified for the event, including former world and Olympic-level stars such as Momota and Paris Olympic women’s singles silver medalist He Bingjiao. Former Chinese national team players Ou Xuanyi and Zhao Junpeng were also among the notable participants.
Kento Momota Recovers After Losing Opening Game
Ren Chengming made a confident start to the men’s singles final, attacking decisively and refusing to allow Momota time to establish his usual rhythm.
Ren’s aggressive approach paid off as he took the opening game 15-8, placing the former world No. 1 under early pressure.
Momota responded in the second game by slowing down the rallies and using tighter net shots to move his opponent around the court. His control gradually improved, allowing him to edge a close game 15-13 and force a decider.
The Japanese player then took complete control in the third game. His defense became increasingly difficult to break down, while his counterattacks repeatedly caught Ren out of position.
Momota closed out the deciding game 15-7 to complete the 8-15, 15-13, 15-7 comeback and secure the Shanghai Open men’s singles championship.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Champion: Kento Momota of Japan
- Runner-up: Ren Chengming of China
- Final score: 8-15, 15-13, 15-7
Momota Still Displays Elite-Level Court Control
Although the Shanghai Open is different from a regular BWF World Tour tournament, Momota’s performance was still a major badminton news highlight.
The Japanese star relied on the qualities that once carried him to the top of international badminton: accurate placement, intelligent rally construction, calm defense and the ability to change pace without taking unnecessary risks.
Ren’s speed and attacking pressure caused problems early in the final, but Momota adjusted rather than trying to match his opponent shot for shot. Once he established control at the net and began extending the rallies, the direction of the match changed.
The title also gave fans another opportunity to watch one of the most technically gifted men’s singles players of his generation compete in a meaningful tournament setting.
Watch Kento Momota vs. Ren Chengming
Watch the full men’s singles final between Kento Momota and Ren Chengming at the 2026 Shanghai Open:
Momota Gives Racket to Young Fan After Final
Momota also created one of the most touching moments of the tournament during his post-match media appearance.
He unexpectedly decided to give one of his match rackets to a young fan who was holding a sign featuring his picture.
The gesture immediately drew loud cheers and applause from spectators inside the venue. It was a warm conclusion to Momota’s championship run and showed why he continues to enjoy strong support from badminton fans outside Japan.
Lau Yi Sheng (Malaysia) and An Teng (China) Win Mixed Doubles Title
In the mixed doubles final, Lau Yi Sheng (Malaysia) and An Teng (China) defeated Chinese national team pair Chen Sihang and Zhou Xinru in straight games.
Lau and An won 15-11, 18-16 after controlling the important points in both games. Their sharper play during the front-court exchanges prevented Chen and Zhou from establishing a consistent attacking rhythm.
Chen Sihang and Zhou Xinru finished as the mixed doubles runners-up.
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Champions: Lau Yi Sheng (Malaysia) and An Teng (China)
- Runners-up: Chen Sihang/Zhou Xinru of China
- Final score: 15-11, 18-16
Feng Xueying-Chen Xiaofei Capture Women’s Doubles Crown
Chinese national team players Feng Xueying and Chen Xiaofei secured the women’s doubles championship with a convincing performance against Shao Jiani and Shi Xurui.
Feng and Chen dominated the opening game 15-2, using quick rotations and aggressive net play to keep their opponents under constant pressure.
The second game was more competitive, but Feng and Chen remained in control during the closing stages to complete the straight-game victory.
Their fluid court coverage and fast interceptions highlighted the quality of China’s women’s doubles depth.
- Category: Women’s doubles
- Champions: Feng Xueying/Chen Xiaofei of China
- Runners-up: Shao Jiani/Shi Xurui of China
- Final score: 15-2, 15-10
Evgeniya Kosetskaya Claims Women’s Singles Championship
Russia’s Evgeniya Kosetskaya came from behind to defeat China’s Guo Xinyi in the women’s singles final.
Guo took the opening game 15-11, but Kosetskaya responded by winning the second 15-12.
The Russian player maintained her momentum in the decider as Guo began to show signs of fatigue. Kosetskaya eventually secured the title with a 15-10 victory in the third game.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Champion: Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia
- Runner-up: Guo Xinyi of China
- Final score: 11-15, 15-12, 15-10
Wu Tuobin-Guo Ruohan Produce Men’s Doubles Surprise
Wu Tuobin and Guo Ruohan emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise champions after winning the men’s doubles final against a cross-national partnership featuring former Chinese national team player Ou Xuanyi and Tri Kusuma Wardhana of Indonesia.
Wu and Guo controlled the contest from the opening rallies and won 15-10, 15-6.
Their opponents struggled to settle into the match, while the younger combination played with greater energy and consistency throughout both games.
The result established Wu and Guo as one of the breakout pairs of the tournament.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Champions: Wu Tuobin/Guo Ruohan
- Runners-up: Ou Xuanyi/Tri Kusuma Wardhana
- Final score: 15-10, 15-6
Shanghai Open Brings Professional Stars and Badminton Fans Together
The 2026 YONEX Shanghai Open concluded after two days of competition involving players from a wide range of badminton backgrounds.
The event, which has been developed locally over the past four years, was organized under the guidance of the Shanghai Sports Federation and jointly hosted by the Shanghai Badminton Association, YONEX Shanghai Sporting Goods and Shanghai Jiushi Sports Venue Management.
Its open format allowed amateur competitors and university players to share the tournament environment with provincial athletes and former international stars.
That mix gave younger players valuable experience while allowing fans to watch familiar names compete from much closer range than at a major international championship.
Kento Momota Provides the Tournament’s Biggest Badminton News Story
The finals produced a variety of results, including straight-game victories, three-game comebacks and unexpected champions.
However, Momota’s men’s singles triumph remained the defining story of the Shanghai Open.
After losing the opening game to Ren Chengming, the Japanese star relied on his experience and tactical control to turn the match around. His post-match decision to give his racket to a young supporter added another memorable moment to the event.
The victory should not be interpreted as a return to the regular BWF World Tour, but it showed that Momota can still produce high-quality badminton and entertain spectators with the intelligent style that made him a world champion and world No. 1.
For players and fans alike, the Shanghai Open offered a celebration of badminton at multiple levels, from emerging local competitors to one of the sport’s most recognizable former champions.
