Top seed Shi Yuqi ousted in stunning upset at Asian Games

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Three weeks ago, China's best shuttler Shi Yuqi raced into the finals of the badminton World Championships in Nanjing, losing out on the title to Japanese rising star Kento Momota. At the Asian Games, however, his time was considerably shorter.

Shi's attempt at a first Asian Games individual trophy is a thing of the past after Indonesia's Jonatan Christie became the first major upset of the tournament.

The 20-year-old edged out world No. 2 Shi 21-19, 19-21, 21-17 in an enthralling battle, which lasted for one hour and eight minutes, in the men's singles first round on Friday night.

Ranked 15th in the world, Christie matched his senior rival serve-to-serve and smash-to-smash as a partisan crowd erupted in deafening applause at each point by the Indonesian player.

"It's like Yuqi did not move fast enough. Maybe because he went after Anthony (Sinisuka Ginting) in the team event match. So the feet movement is a bit slower than before," Christie told reporters.

"The audience was amazing as they gave me the necessary boost to go harder in the match," he said, adding that it will be a "step by step" for him.

Despite the difference in their world rankings, Christie now leads Shi 4-3 in head-to-head encounters.

Shi Yuqi was stunned by Indonesia's Jonatan Christie (not pictured) in his first match in badminton men's singles at the 2018 Asian Games on August 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Chinese argued with the umpire on a couple of line decisions and his frustration was clearly visible.

He rallied to win the second game but Christie kept his calm to take the third game and set up a round-of-16 meeting with Thailand's Khosit Phetpradab.

"Both of us played well. I tried my best, could have played better had I committed fewer mistakes, but that's the way it stands now," said Shi, "The applause (from the crowd) didn't affect me ... but there were several scores that were a little disputed."

In another major upset, Vincent Wong Wing Ki of China's Hong Kong served out Indian heavyweight Kidambi Srikanth 23-21, 21-19 in 41 minutes.

China's Hong Kong also created a shock in the mixed doubles, with Reginald Lee and Chau Hoi Wah overcoming Malaysia's Rio Olympic silver medalists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying 21-17, 19-21, 28-26.

(With input from agencies)