China's badminton star Shi Yuqi ends 14-month wait for title

The year 2023 proved to be a mixed bag of triumphs and regrets for Shi Yuqi. While the Chinese badminton veteran exhibited his all-round brilliance and consistency by reaching the finals of the illustrious All England Open, the highly-anticipated Asian Games and the year-end BWF World Tour Finals, he stumbled at the last hurdle in all three of these major tournaments.

It seemed that the spell of misfortune continued to cast its shadow over Shi's campaign in 2024. In the Malaysia Open earlier this month, Shi defied the odds by edging out the world No.1 Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals, earning him a place in the final. But his title hopes were dashed as he succumbed to Anders Antonsen, once again settling for the runner-up position. 

And on Sunday night, a similar scenario unfolded as Shi found himself on the grand stage of the India Open final, facing off Lee Cheuk-yiu of Hong Kong, China. This time, however, fate smiled upon him as Shi eventually emerged triumphant, battling his way to a hard-fought 23-21, 21-17 victory and putting an end to his 14-month title drought. The last time Shi held a trophy aloft was back in November 2022 at the Australian Open.

The final showdown was an exhilarating display of dexterity and grace, with both players performing at their absolute best. Shi came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, taking an early lead and steadily pushing forward. 

Lee, on the other hand, refused to back down and relentlessly narrowed the gap, even managing to level the score at 15-15. However, Shi did not allow Lee any room to breathe. Despite missing three game points, Shi managed to grind out a nail-biting victory in the first set 23-21.  

In the second set, Lee displayed remarkable resilience and mounted an impressive comeback after falling behind 6-14. He strung together an incredible streak of 10 consecutive points, propelling him into an unlikely lead. However, with his back against the wall, Shi maintained his composure and held his nerve. He regrouped and launched a fierce counterattack, scoring seven out of the next eight points, ultimately sealing the victory 21-17.

This marked Shi's second title in India since his previous triumph in 2018, and the 27-year-old aspires for this championship victory to be merely the start of greater things to come.

"This final win holds immense significance in my career, especially considering the esteemed stature of this tournament," observed Shi. "Despite Axelsen currently holding the world No.1 position, the world of badminton is incredibly competitive, and anyone has the potential to ascend to the throne.

"My aim is to continue pushing forward and reaching new heights in my career."