China Open 2025 shows hosts’ dominance: Will the rest catch up?

The China Open 2025 highlighted the host nation’s dominance, with Chinese athletes securing four gold and four silver medals. Find out how the rest of the world can catch up.

CHINA OPEN 2025 FEATURED SEVERAL ALL-CHINESE FINALS

The China Open 2025, held from July 22 to 27, showcased China’s continued dominance in badminton, culminating in several all-Chinese finals on the tournament’s closing day.

In particular, the men’s singles final highlighted the depth of local talent, as world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi faced off against surprise finalist Wang Zhengxing.

Following a slow start, Shi demonstrated his championship form, rallying from a set down to outlast Wang with a scoreline of 14-21, 21-14, 21-15.

Although this marked his fourth title of the season, Shi revealed that this specific win carried special significance.

In previous editions of the China Open, he had struggled to deliver top performances due to the venue’s notoriously drafty conditions.

“I’ve never performed well here before because of the draft,” the top seed admitted. “I’m very happy to finally break through and win in front of our home crowd,” he added with relief.

Ultimately, Shi’s victory not only reinforced his world ranking but also delivered a long-awaited triumph on home soil.

SHI SWEEPS BWF WORLD TOUR SUPER 1000 EVENTS AFTER CHINA OPEN WIN

With his latest China Open 2025 victory, Shi Yu Qi has officially swept all four BWF World Tour Super 1000 events; A rare feat that cements his place among badminton’s elite.

As a result, the world No. 1 continues his incredible streak, having now won nine consecutive titles from his last nine finals appearances.

Looking back, Shi’s last non-gold result came back in 2018, when he settled for silver at the Nanjing World Championships.

Reflecting on his performance, Shi explained how he adapted throughout the match.

“Two sides played differently, and at first, I was with the drift,” he said, referring to his strategic adjustments against Zhang.

“In the second game, I told myself to be patient and fight every rally,” he added, showcasing the mindset that has driven his historic run.

Clearly, Shi’s mental toughness and tactical awareness have become key factors in his dominance on the world stage.

WANG ZHIYI COPS WOMEN’S TITLE AS AN SE-YOUNG RETIRES IN SEMIFINALS

On the other hand, Wang Zhiyi captured the women’s singles crown in a surprising all-Chinese final.

She confidently held off surprise finalist Han Yue, sealing the win 21-8, 21-13, and in doing so, matched Shi Yu Qi’s championship feat.

In contrast to the men’s division, the women’s circuit is typically dominated by South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young.

However, An’s pursuit of the BWF Super 1000 slam came to an unexpected halt when she retired during her semifinal clash with Han.

After narrowly losing the first game 21-19, An injured her right leg early in the second set, prompting concern from fans at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Beijing.

Nevertheless, she attempted to continue, returning to the court with her right leg heavily bandaged following a medical timeout.

Despite her determination, Han capitalized on An’s limited mobility, quickly racking up points in an effort to force a deciding set.

Subsequently, An made the difficult decision to retire from the match, ending the contest after just 33 minutes on court.

As a result, the final became an all-Chinese affair; Further underlining the host nation’s dominance at this year’s tournament.

REDEMPTION FOR WANG AFTER STAYING AS NO.2 FOR 37 WEEKS

It has been a redemption for Wang with her latest China Open win before family and friends.

For 37 consecutive weeks, Wang has held the position of world No. 2, consistently chasing South Korea’s top-ranked An Se-young.

With this win, she not only overcame a long-standing ranking hurdle but also secured her 10th BWF World Tour title – and her first-ever Super 1000-level championship.

After the final, Wang revealed that the road to victory wasn’t easy.

“I battled recurring low fever all week and had negative thoughts,” she shared.

Nevertheless, she pushed through adversity, both physical and mental. “Reaching the final came down to willpower,” Wang added, highlighting the grit that ultimately led to her long-awaited triumph.

FENG, HUANG RETAINS MIXED DOUBLES TITLE, AIM TO MAINTAIN ‘UPWARD TREND’

Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping successfully retained their mixed doubles title at the China Open 2025, triumphing once again in an all-Chinese final.

This time, the top-seeded pair secured a hard-fought 23-21, 21-17 win over compatriots Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin on Sunday.

Despite defending their crown, Feng emphasized that every victory feels new, no matter how many times they’ve stood atop the podium.

“The competition is the same every year, but the feeling at the moment is always different, so we treat it like it’s the first time and give it our all,” he explained.

Likewise, Huang Dongping praised their consistency and problem-solving skills throughout the tournament.

“What’s really commendable is that during this tournament, we were able to solve problems in the middle of the match – that’s our biggest improvement,” she noted.

Together, the duo continues to demonstrate world-class chemistry and resilience.

“We’ve always been on an upward trend,” Huang added, reinforcing their commitment to staying at the top of the global mixed doubles scene.

LIU, TAN NING COMPLETE CHINA’S ‘FOUR-PEAT’ ALL-CHINESE FINALS

China wrapped up its incredible “four-peat” of all-Chinese finals at the China Open 2025, with the final jewel coming in the women’s doubles division.

There, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning battled past fellow Chinese duo Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian in a thrilling three-set encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Ultimately, the top-seeded pair lived up to expectations, pulling off a gritty 24-22, 17-21, 21-14 victory.

The clash lasted 69 minutes, with both sides displaying world-class skill and determination in a true showcase of elite women’s doubles badminton.

In addition, the win marked Liu and Tan’s third consecutive title, underscoring their growing dominance on the BWF World Tour.

What’s more, their triumph sealed a clean sweep for China in the finals, highlighting the country’s incredible depth and strength across all five events.

INDONESIAN DUO BREAKS CHINESE JUGGERNAUT IN MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL

An Indonesian pair finally ended the Chinese dominance in the men’s doubles final at the China Open 2025.

With no Chinese teams reaching the final, Fajar Alfian and Shohibul Fikri enjoyed a less partisan atmosphere as they faced Malaysia’s top tandem.

The surprising Indonesian duo secured a commanding 21-15, 21-14 victory over Aaron Chia and Soh Woooi Yik, who are among Malaysia’s best men’s doubles teams.

What made this achievement even more remarkable was that Fajar and Shohibul are competing in only their second tournament together, following their debut last week at the Japan Open.

In just 35 minutes, the Indonesian pair outplayed the experienced Malaysian duo, who were runners-up at the 2023 China Open.

This breakthrough signals a fresh new challenge to the established powers in men’s doubles badminton.

CHINESE COMMENTATOR SHARES INSIGHT ON CHINA’S BADMINTON DOMINANCE

A prominent Chinese commentator recently shared his perspective on what fuels China’s continued dominance in badminton.

While Liu Yu may naturally have some bias toward his compatriots, his observations about the adaptability of Chinese shuttlers were notably accurate.

Specifically, the Beijing-based sports commentator highlighted the impressive performance of Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping during their mixed doubles victory.

“The pace of badminton matches changes rapidly,” Liu explained.

He further elaborated, saying, “What Feng meant by ‘we can solve problems during the match’ refers to their ability to handle mid-game adjustments and crucial points under pressure.”

Liu’s insights underscore the strategic depth and mental resilience that keep Chinese players at the forefront of the sport.

LIU CREDITS HAN YUE FOR OUSTING AN DESPITE SOUTH KOREAN’S BATTLING AN INJURY

Meanwhile, commentator Liu Yu praised Han Yue for her impressive performance in defeating An Se-young, even as the South Korean star battled injury.

Liu described Han’s play in the opening set as “commendable,” noting that despite An taking the first game, Han’s skill stood out.

Moreover, Liu highlighted two key qualities that earned Han the opportunity to challenge Wang Zhiyi in the final.

“Han’s net play was very delicate, especially in terms of controlling the pace of the match—she showed strong adaptability,” Liu explained.

He continued, “When facing a top opponent like An, Han’s calmness and decision-making abilities were particularly outstanding.”

Liu’s analysis underscores Han’s rise as a formidable contender on the international badminton stage.

CAN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, THAILAND, AND JAPAN CATCH UP?

The lingering question after the China Open 2025 remains: when will the rest of Asia catch up to China’s badminton dominance?

Countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan boast their own top-tier shuttlers who continuously challenge the elite.

Some fans argue that the home court advantage gave Chinese players an edge in nearly sweeping the China Open finals.

However, there’s no denying that Shi Yu Qi and Wang Zhiyi are prohibitive favorites heading into the BWF World Championships next month.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Leong Jun Hao had his moments in the tournament, which we may see in Paris.

Likewise, India’s Ayush Shetty also had his top 10 moments after winning the US Open.

This year’s Worlds will take place in Paris, France, offering a neutral venue free from home crowd influence.

While China currently dominates the Asian badminton scene, their focus may shift toward fending off strong European contenders.

Ultimately, badminton enthusiasts can only wait to see whether the upcoming World Championships bring changes to the winner’s circle and shift the competitive landscape.

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