World No. 1 Shi Yuqi got off to a winning start at the Badminton Asia Championships 2025 with a two-game dismissal of Pui Pang Fong on Wednesday (9 April) in Ningbo, People’s Republic of China.
The Chinese star beat his opponent from Macau China 21-15, 21-10 to glide into the last 16 where he will face Japan’s Tanaka Yushi, who needed to go the distance to beat Ng Ka Long Angus.
In other early matches, Shi’s compatriot Li Shifeng was made to work by Sri Lanka’s Viren Nettasinghe but eventually came out ahead 21-19, 21-19 after 51 minutes.
Later in the day, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, the 2021 world champion, saw off Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in a 45-minute straight-games victory.
Loh started brightly and had runs of seven and then six unanswered points in the first game; while the second was closer, the Singaporean saved a game point before closing out a 21-15, 22-20 triumph to reach the last 16 where Lakshya Sen or Lee Chia-Hao await.
Olympic silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand is also through to the second round after beating Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong 21-9, 21-12.
On the women’s side, second seed Han Yue made quick work of Aakarshi Kashyap of India in 31 minutes for a 21-13, 21-7 victory.
Her Chinese compatriot Chen Yufei, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, also sailed into the round of 16 with a straight-games 21-15, 21-16 win over Lin Hsiang-Ti of Chinese Taipei.
