China Claims 2 Golds, 2 Silvers at Home Badminton Open

The 2026 China Badminton Open, a BWF World Tour Super 1000 event, concluded on July 26 in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, with host nation China securing two gold medals and two silver medals across the five disciplines. Chinese duos dominated the doubles events, winning gold in mixed doubles and women’s doubles, while Chen Yufei earned silver in women’s singles.

According to People’s Daily, the six-day tournament from July 21 to 26 attracted top international talent and served as a key preparatory event for the upcoming BWF World Championships and Asian Games. As a Super 1000 tournament, the China Open ranks among the most prestigious events on the international badminton calendar, second only to the World Championships and Olympic Games.

Mixed Doubles: All-Chinese Final Delivers Drama

The mixed doubles final was an all-Chinese affair, with Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui defeating top seeds and defending champions Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping in a gripping 87-minute contest, 25-23, 20-22, 21-15. The victory ended a seven-match losing streak for Guo and Chen against their higher-seeded compatriots.

“Previously, when being chased in points, we would get anxious, but this time we were able to calmly focus on the next rally,” Chen Fanghui said, crediting their stable mentality as key to the win. People’s Daily reported that it marked their second Super 1000 title since the 2025 All England Open.

English coverage from People’s Daily Online quoted Chen adding: “We learned to absorb pressure while putting pressure on our opponents, and that’s been the biggest takeaway from this tournament.”

Women’s Doubles: Liu and Tan Successfully Defend Title

Top seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning successfully defended their women’s doubles title with a commanding 21-14, 21-19 victory over Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto. The win avenged their defeat to the same Japanese pair at the Indonesia Open in June, where Liu and Tan had lost in three grueling games.

Despite Tan Ning playing through injury, the pair controlled the match from start to finish. “We performed at the level we showed in training, which provides a good foundation for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games,” Tan Ning said.

The victory marked Liu and Tan’s third Super 1000 title in four such tournaments this season, underscoring their dominance in women’s doubles and solidifying their status as one of China’s most reliable pairs heading into the major championships.

Women’s Singles: Chen Yufei Takes Silver

Chen Yufei finished as runner-up in women’s singles, falling to Japan’s world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-18, 21-16. En route to the final, Chen demonstrated remarkable resilience with come-from-behind victories against India’s P.V. Sindhu and Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, showcasing her fighting spirit.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t make a breakthrough,” Chen said after the match, according to People’s Daily. She added that she would focus on regrouping, adjusting her approach, and maintaining composure for future competitions.

Historic Achievement in Men’s Singles

In a historic achievement, 36-year-old Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei defeated France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-15, 7-21, 21-13 to become the oldest Super 1000 winner in BWF history. The veteran’s triumph was a highlight of the tournament, demonstrating that experience and perseverance can prevail against younger opponents.

In men’s doubles, Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri claimed back-to-back titles following their Japan Open victory the previous week, defeating Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 16-21, 21-19, 21-19.

Analysis and Forward Look

The tournament highlighted China’s continued strength in doubles disciplines, with an all-Chinese mixed doubles final and a dominant title defense in women’s doubles. However, gaps remain in the men’s events — no Chinese players reached the finals in men’s singles or men’s doubles, signaling areas for development.

The women’s singles result also points to Japan’s continued challenge, with Yamaguchi proving a formidable opponent for Chinese shuttlers on home soil.

As the badminton season progresses toward the World Championships and Asian Games, China’s performance in Changzhou provides both confidence in its doubles prowess and clear direction for improvement in the singles events. The team will look to build on these results in the major tournaments ahead.