Defending Champion Li Shifeng Knocked Out in First Round of All England Badminton Championships
The annual All-England Badminton Open started off with a surprising upset on March 12 as defending champion Li Shifeng was eliminated in the first round of men’s singles. The Chinese player lost to French competitor Thomas Popov Jr. in a 0:2 defeat, missing the opportunity to defend his title.
Last year, Li Shifeng claimed victory in the All England competition by defeating his senior brother Shi Yuqi in the final. This year, he returned to Birmingham as the No. 3 seed but was unable to secure a win against Thomas Popov Jr. The French player, who had beaten Li Shifeng in their previous encounters, emerged victorious with scores of 17:21 and 13:21.
Although Thomas Popov Jr. admitted to not performing at his best due to a recent injury, he managed to outplay Li Shifeng with consistent and stable gameplay. The French player’s triumph sets him up for a second-round matchup against another Chinese competitor, Weng Hongyang.
With Li Shifeng out of the running, the spotlight now shifts to other contenders in the tournament. Denmark’s No. 1 seed Viktor Axelsen and China’s mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong have shown strong performances in their respective matches. The Chinese team’s Han Yue, Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi, and Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning have also advanced to the top 16 in their respective categories.
As the All England Badminton Championships continue, fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling matches and unexpected twists in the competition. Stay tuned for updates on the latest results and standout performances at this prestigious event.