Badminton Shi wins All England title with victory over Lee

BIRMINGHAM, England – China’s Shi Yuqi overcame Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-hao in the men’s singles final to win his second All England Open Badminton Championships title on March 16 in straight games.

The top-seeded Shi secured the win in 51 minutes, keeping a determined Lee at bay for most of the match and sealing the match with a 21-17, 21-19 victory.

The 2018 winner and world No. 1 showed composure throughout the match, despite the 22nd-ranked Lees late comeback attempt in the second game, and raised his hand in triumph before a cheering audience.

Afterwards, Shi thanked the supporters, saying in English, “Thank you, I love you guys,” to the fans at Arena Birmingham who were waving Chinese flags.

It was China’s second title of the day after the opening mixed doubles final, in which Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui got past compatriots Feng Yanzhe and Wei Yaxin 21-16, 10-21, 23-21.

The women’s doubles final was an all-Japan affair, with Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida beating Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 14-21, 21-17.

China were denied a triple triumph, as second seed Wang Zhiyi lost to world No. 1, South Koreas An Se-young, 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 in the womens singles final. REUTERS

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