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2022.08.24 23:24 GMT+8

Team China advance in BWF World Championships, Momota edged out

Updated 2022.08.24 23:24 GMT+8
CGTN

Chen Yufei during the World Badminton Championships women's singles second round in Tokyo, Japan, August 24, 2022. /CFP

Team China's shuttlers continued to advance to the last 16 at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in Japan on Wednesday, following their previous victories.

Zhao Junpeng stunned India's top player Kidambi Srikanth 21-9, 21-17 in only 34 minutes to reach the men's singles round of 16. Zhao will next play fifth seed Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.

Olympic champion Chen Yufei had to resist Malaysian Soniia Cheah's strong comeback in the first game, when Cheah fought back from 9-5 down to level the score at 10-10 and went up 15-13. Chen managed to claim the first game 21-17 with some audaciously angled shots, and the second 21-15, edging towards her first World Championships title.

Three pairs entered the women's doubles third round, with one other pair, Liu Xuanxuan and Xia Yuting, eliminated by teammates Du Yue and Li Wenmei 21-17, 21-13.

Defending champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan delivered a solid performance on their path to pursue their third title at the World Championships. 

Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu clinched a 2-0 win to enter the round of 16, where they will encounter Jin Yujia and Wong Jia Ying Crystal from Singapore as Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota dropped out.

Meanwhile, two-time World Championships winner and local favorite Kento Momota became the biggest upset of the day when he was edged out in the men's singles second round by India's H.S. Prannoy 17-21, 16-21.

(With input from Xinhua)

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