JAKARTA, July 1, 2024 (AFP) – A 17-year-old Chinese player has died after collapsing on court during an international tournament in Indonesia, badminton officials said on Monday. Zhang Zhijie was taken ill during a match late Sunday against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Asian Junior Badminton Mixed Team Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang suddenly fell to the floor. A doctor and medical team were quickly on […]
Tag: badminton
World number one Axelsen out of badminton’s Malaysia Masters
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Dominant world number one Viktor Axelsen withdrew from badminton’s Malaysia Masters starting Tuesday, saying he needed to “rest and recharge” after winning the Malaysia Open, Indonesia Open and Indonesia Masters in the past month. “I would have loved to compete again here in Kuala Lumpur this week, and then (next week’s) Singapore Open,” Axelsen posted on social media late on Monday. “However when I woke up this morning, my body […]
World champion Yamaguchi powers into Badminton Asia semis
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan surged into the Badminton Asia Championships semi-finals after fighting back to defeat Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong on Friday. Sixth-seeded Pornpawee romped to the first game 21-9 but the title-holder recovered to win the next two 21-15, 21-17 and wrap up the quarter-final in 55 minutes in Manila. Yamaguchi will play India’s P.V. Sindhu in the last four after the fourth seed overcame China’s fifth seed He […]
‘She never gets tired’: Indonesian dad hails daughter’s badminton gold
KENDARI, Indonesia (AFP) — As Ameruddin Pora’s relatives gathered in his living room, shouting at the final of the Olympics badminton women’s doubles, he locked himself in his room to watch his daughter win Indonesia’s historic gold medal. Apriyani Rahayu, 23, and her veteran partner Greysia Polii picked up the badminton-mad country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo on Monday, and its first-ever Olympic medal in the women’s doubles. “Everyone was screaming with joy outside, […]
Lee retirement leaves ‘Super Dan’ ploughing lonely Olympic furrow
by Peter STEBBINGS SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Lee Chong Wei’s tearful retirement was not just a sad conclusion to one of badminton’s great careers, it also ended his remarkable rivalry with China’s Lin Dan. The duo reigned over the sport for more than a decade and have only relinquished that hold in recent years as their powers waned. Both are well past their prime, but the Malaysian was forced to call it quits after being […]
Booming ‘super’ league culture makes India’s sports market sizzle
by Faisal Kamal Agence France-Presse New Delhi, India (AFP) – Boxing, badminton, poker, pool — every sport imaginable is re-branding in India as a “super” or “pro” franchise-based competition chasing a slice of an emerging billion-dollar entertainment market dominated by cricket’s Indian Premier League. The star-studded Twenty20 tournament has inspired a raft of glitzy new sports leagues seeking to replicate the winning formula that recently landed India’s most popular sporting event a bumper $2.55 billion broadcast deal. Earlier […]
Thai badminton star Ratchanok cleared of doping
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai Badminton star Ratchanok Intanon broke down in tears and spoke of her relief Monday after being cleared of doping, ending fears her Olympic dreams had been scuppered. The 21-year-old shuttler, who is beloved in Thailand and remains the kingdom’s best chance for a medal in Rio, tested positive for a banned substance in May after a tournament in China. But the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Monday cleared her after ruling […]
Badminton: Serving you a shot of fun facts
The Unity Games International is getting nearer and nearer and the excitement is already mounting. Here’s your daily dose of fun sports facts and trivia as we wait for the Unity Games! #UnityGamesIntl2015 Infographics designer: Shaira Darleen Barretto Researcher: Mary Rose Faith Bonalos
