Chen Yufei in action during the women's singles first round match against Zhang Beiwen at the 2023 China Open in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China powered past American Zhang Beiwen in China Open and she will be a torchbearer for the 19th Asian Games in her hometown of Hangzhou.
CHANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China and world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan both stormed into the second round of the women's singles at the badminton China Open here on Wednesday.
Chen, the 3rd seed at the tournament, beat Zhang Beiwen of the United States 21-18, 21-5. "I was patient and determined on the court, so I got some key points and sealed the victory," Chen noted.
The Hangzhou native has been selected as a torchbearer for the 19th Asian Games to be held in her hometown. "I heard about it this morning, and I feel very honored, grateful and excited. I have a new torch to collect now!" Chen said with a smile.
Second-seeded Yamaguchi eliminated Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-12, 21-18 to reach the last 16.
In the men's singles, world No. 2 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia suffered an early exit at the hands of Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama 21-11, 18-21, 21-17, while another Japanese contender Kodai Naraoka, seeded fourth, secured a 26-24, 12-21, 21-11 win against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia.
China's top men's singles player Shi Yuqi also booked a last-16 berth by sweeping Magnus Johannesen of Denmark 21-8, 21-11.
亚军玛丽娅-埃尔南德斯（Maria Hernandez）来自西班牙，获得10.8分，管理系统开发资讯世界排名从251位上升到188位。
"I will try to find my shortcomings through the competition and prepare for the Asian Games," said Shi.
His compatriot Li Shifeng fought 75 minutes to overcome Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 18-21, 21-18, and will take on his teammate Lu Guangzu, who beat Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong (China) 21-17, 21-15.
In the mixed doubles, China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeated Terry Hee Yong Kai and Jessica Tan Wei Han of Indonesia in straight sets.
He Jiting/Zhou Haodong and Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning管理系统开发公司, both of China, also progressed through in the men's and women's doubles respectively. ■