China's Shi, Chen crash out of Fuzhou China Open 2nd round

Shi Yuqi of China reacts after he retired due to a foot injury during his Men's Singles second round match against Rasmus Gemke of Denmark on day three of the Fuzhou China Open at Haixia Olympic Sports Center in Fuzhou, China, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo

Third-seeded Chinese shuttler Shi Yuqi withdrew from the Fuzhou China Open after losing to Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 21-10 in the first game at the men's singles second round here on Thursday, while Rio Olympic champion Chen Long was ousted by Lu Guangzu in a Chinese derby.

Shi, who just recovered from an ankle injury, led 10-7 in the opening minutes before Gemke scored 14 consecutive points to finish the first game 21-10, when the 23-year-old decided to retire from the match.

"My ankle felt uncomfortable, and I chose to protect myself," Shi said afterwards. Shi still needs more Olympic points to secure a berth in Tokyo.

"It's definitely a loss for me [to retire from a Super 750 tournament], but the priority is to get fully recovered," he added.

Chen Long of China competes in the Men's Singles second round match against Lu Guangzu of China on day three of the Fuzhou China Open at Haixia Olympic Sports Center, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo

The men's singles second round action also witnessed a shock exit from Chen, who was upset by Lu in 21-10, 10-21, 21-13. In the deciding game, the 30-year-old Chen suddenly lost rhythm when he led 11-10 going into the changeover, and conceded nine points in a row as his 23-year-old countryman clinched the victory in 48 minutes.

"I had no pressure. What I did was just get prepared and win one point after another," Lu noted, who will be the only Chinese mainland shuttler in the men's singles last eight, and will take on Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei on Friday.

In other action, world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan advanced after his opponent's retirement for the second time in the tournament, while Viktor Axelsen of Denmark shrugged off Parupalli Kashyap from India in 21-13, 21-19.

Chen Yufei of China competes in the Women's Singles second round match against Aya Ohori of Japan on day three of the Fuzhou China Open. /VCG Photo

In women's singles, defending champion Chen Yufei saw off Aya Ohori of Japan 21-18, 21-13 on home soil, while her compatriot He Bingjiao eliminated newly-crowned French Open champion An Se Young of South Korea, 21-13, 21-17.

Top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei powered through Indonesian shuttler Mariska Tunjung 21-19, 21-17, setting up a third round clash with Kim Ga Eun of South Korea.

Among Chinese doubles, top seed in mixed pair Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong cruised through the second round in two straight games. Men's duo Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen routed Lu Chingyao/Yang Pohan of Chinese Taipei, 25-23, 21-9.

In two women's pair Chinese derby, Li Wenmei/Zheng Yu and Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan beat Du Yue/Li Yinhui and Liu Xuanxuan/Xia Yuting respectively.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency