Kumamoto, Japan: Li Shifeng will spearhead China’s men’s singles challenge at the 2026 Kumamoto Masters Japan after Shi Yuqi withdrew from the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, leaving several of China’s rising players to fight their way through qualifying.
The Kumamoto Masters Japan will take place from November 10 to 15 with total prize money of US$500,000. The tournament entry list, released on October 2, shows China bringing a blend of established stars, young prospects and several experimental doubles combinations to Japan.
- Tournament: Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026
- Category: BWF World Tour Super 500
- Dates: November 10-15, 2026
- Prize money: US$500,000
- Location: Kumamoto, Japan
Li Shifeng Leads China After Shi Yuqi Withdrawal
Shi Yuqi’s withdrawal leaves Li Shifeng as China’s leading men’s singles player directly entered in the main draw.
China’s younger generation will have a tougher route. Hu Zhe An, Dong Tian Yao and Zhu Xuan Chen are scheduled to begin in qualifying and will need to earn their places in the main tournament.
- Main draw: Li Shifeng
- Qualifying: Hu Zhe An, Dong Tian Yao, Zhu Xuan Chen
The tournament therefore provides an important opportunity to evaluate China’s emerging men’s singles players in a competitive Super 500 environment while Li carries the main responsibility for results.
Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi Head Strong Women’s Singles Lineup
China will have considerably more established strength in women’s singles, with Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi both entered in the main draw.
They will be joined by Han Qian Xi and Xu Wen Jing, giving China a mix of championship experience and younger players looking for more exposure on the international badminton circuit.
- Chen Yu Fei
- Wang Zhi Yi
- Han Qian Xi
- Xu Wen Jing
Chen and Wang will carry China’s strongest title hopes, while the tournament gives Han and Xu another opportunity to test themselves against a Super 500 field.
Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang Get New Partners
China’s men’s doubles lineup contains some of the most interesting combinations of the tournament.
He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu and Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi remain established pairings, but China will also experiment with new partnerships involving world-class players Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.
Liang is entered alongside Hu Ke Yuan, while Wang will partner Xie Hao Nan.
- He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu – Main draw
- Chen Bo Yang/Liu Yi – Main draw
- Liang Wei Keng/Hu Ke Yuan – New combination
- Wang Chang/Xie Hao Nan – New combination
- Zeng Wei Han/Lin Xiang Yi – Qualifying
The temporary partnerships involving Liang and Wang will be closely watched as China continues to explore its depth and different tactical combinations in men’s doubles.
Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning Lead Deep Women’s Doubles Squad
China will arrive in Kumamoto with considerable depth in women’s doubles.
Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning and Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian headline the entry list, while several younger combinations will also compete.
- Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning
- Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian
- Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han
- Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge
- Li Yi Jing/Wang Yi Duo – Qualifying
- Luo Xu Min/Chen Fan Shu Tian – Qualifying
Liu-Tan and Jia-Zhang give China two proven combinations capable of challenging deep into the tournament, while the qualifying pairs will be looking to gain valuable international experience.
China Brings Six Mixed Doubles Pairs
Mixed doubles remains another area where China will have both elite contenders and developing combinations.
Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin lead a six-pair Chinese contingent.
- Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping
- Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin
- Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui
- Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi
- Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying
- Zhu Yi Jun/Li Qian
The presence of multiple combinations gives China an opportunity to pursue the title while continuing to build depth behind its leading mixed doubles pairs.
Kumamoto Masters Offers Important Test for China’s Next Generation
The 2026 Kumamoto Masters comes at an interesting point in China’s badminton season.
Without Shi Yuqi in men’s singles, more attention will fall on Li Shifeng and the younger players attempting to emerge from qualifying. The experimental men’s doubles combinations will also give coaches another chance to assess possible partnerships under tournament conditions.
At the same time, China still arrives with established championship contenders including Chen Yu Fei, Wang Zhi Yi, Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian and Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping.
With Japan competing on home soil and a strong international field expected in Kumamoto, the Super 500 event should provide a useful measure of both China’s established stars and the next generation trying to break through.