Badminton is a funny game.

A relentless and unforgiving world tour. The pressure valve extreme. Finding the exact science to unlocking that freedom, a nuance that escapes most.

Yet, all of a sudden, one single life event, a change of mindset, or a new hope, can put you back on track. This can be almost as unexpected as the events that took you off course in the first place.

Just ask Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie. Two Olympic cycles where dreams were not fulfilled – bitter disappointment, doubts and a slide in rankings.

Many would have given up, without the belief nor fortitude to search for answers. But somehow, some way, with the help of each other, and as Lai says, perhaps some divine intervention, the Malaysian mixed doubles pair have forged a path of resurgence not many saw coming.

Since accepting their Paris 2024 Olympics fate, the recently wedded couple has won the YONEX Swiss Open 2024 and the PERODUA Malaysia Masters 2024, and today, with one of the most important wins of their careers at the VICTOR China Open 2024, progressed through to their first Super 1000 final on the HSBC BWF World Tour.

It was clearly emotional, and highly satisfying, for their words spoke truer than most.

“I am Christian, and there is one phrase that I always keep in mind. When one door closes another door opens. And I think we’re seeing that, we have never given up and that has kept us going until today,” said Lai.

“Yes, we are playing free. There is less pressure. We are enjoying it more than ever,” added Goh.

Their new-found lease on tour life has seen them move into the top three of the HSBC Race to Finals rankings, and with today’s result, are now well poised for further riches this season. They were also quick to assure media that they had no intention of stopping anytime soon.

“It’s surreal. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. Now three finals in a year. It’s an unbelievable achievement for us. And I want to thank my partner for helping us keep it together today,” said Lai.

“It’s been one of my dreams to be in a Super 1000 final. I’m almost in tears. We’ve been playing together for six, seven years now, and I’ve always told him [Goh] I’ve wanted this, to make a big final one day.

“Every match we play is one less match in the future, so we just want to appreciate every chance we get on court now, so long as we come out safely without injuries or illness.

“But I think you guys will be seeing us for quite some time still.”

For Goh, it’s quite simple. “It’s all down to mindset.”

“We played well in the pressure points today. We were more comfortable, brave and stable,” he said of the 21-18 21-18 result.

“This is very important for us. Because when we lose our mindset we lose our focus. So that’s been the main key. A stable mindset.”

They will face world No.3 pair Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping in Sunday’s final.

→Results

What a difference three days makes.

On Sunday, Lei Lan Xi got trounced in the LI-NING Hong Kong Open 2024 men’s singles final by Viktor Axelsen 21-9 21-12. [Read More]

Typhoon Bebinca then ripped through the region causing chaos to flights, forcing Lei and Axelsen to both arrive late to Changzhou. The Olympic champ, in fact, only got in around 8pm last night.

Today then was naturally a much different proposition in their first-round clash at the VICTOR China Open 2024.

An extreme drift from front to back and limited preparation and court acclimatisation for each meant this was a much more intriguing contest.

Lei, whom himself acknowledged he “played much faster today” than compared to Sunday’s final, took the first game 21-19.

In typical Axelsen fashion, the big Dane dug deep despite his unusual sluggishness to take it to a third.

Both players raised the intensity in decider to put on a great show for the Changzhou faithful with Lei triumphing 21-16 to the rapturous applause of fans. Watch the highlights here.

“I think he played a fantastic match. He probably should have won in two games,” Axelsen said post-match.

“We had a few challenges getting here. It would have been great for an evening match for both of us. It was interesting that we had an afternoon match. But no excuses, Lei was the better player and he deserves all the credit.”

On the secret to his form reversal against Axelsen, Lei said: “Maybe it’s more on a psychological level. I dared to go and fight today without any pressure and break through.

“Because I lost to him last week, I made some adjustments and just went for every point. Fight, fight and saving every shot.”

OTHER RESULTS

Dane Julie Dawall Jakobsen fought off late nerves to record the biggest win of her career with a stunning upset of still-injured Tai Tzu Ying 21-19 7-21 21-14.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed. I’m really happy. I’ve played some matches against the best players before but could never really close it out. So, I’m really relieved I could do it today,” she said.

“Even though she isn’t feeling so good physically at the moment she still has many shots to play, so I knew it would be difficult but I’m just happy I stayed in the third game. I was really nervous at the end and I knew I had to place my shots well otherwise she’s just too good.

“It’s a proud moment and this is one of the best victories I’ve had in a long time.”

In another head-turner, Malvika Bansod of India defeated Paris 2024 bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 26-24 21-19 for her biggest victory at a Super 1000 tournament.

→ Results (Day 2)

→ Order of Play (Round of 16)

WHAT OTHERS SAID

“I’ve been practising together with Ng Ka Long [Angus] these previous two week. We’ve had some good battles in training and most of the time he came out on top. So, I’m happy I could turn that around today. I know he is a tricky opponent, and without disrespecting him, I think he will agree with me that he didn’t have his best day today.” – Anders Antonsen

“I have told his story 500 times and it must be told 500 more times. It’s the most inspiring story I have ever heard,” said former Liverpool Football Club Manager Jurgen Klopp as he spoke to media after watching his friend SL3 player Wojtek Czyz compete on Day 1 of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“It’s just not normal, especially his sailing story and he didn’t even know how to sail,” said Klopp, referring to Czyz’ five-year sailing trip around the world several years ago. “His story is so inspiring, so special and the world needs to hear it.”

Czyz struck up a friendship with the German manager more than 20 years ago with Klopp heralding Czyz’s ‘crazy story’ to media post-match. The two revived their friendship playing frisbee on a beach before Klopp took over the high-profile role at Liverpool FC and Czyz went sailing around the world with his wife donating prostheses to those who couldn’t afford it.

“I said to Jurgen back then on the beach, ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’. And now all those years later, here we are,” said Czyz.

Czyz was a 21-year-old footballer with SC Fortuna Koln when during a match the opposing team’s goalkeeper crashed into him causing multiple fractures and his leg to be amputated.

Not to be stopped, Czyz then went on to have a stellar athletics career, winning gold medals in 100m, 200m and long jump at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympics, as well as multiple world titles.

After more than a decade of professional athletics, he retired in 2013 and went sailing around the world, ending up in New Zealand, where he and his wife relocated permanently, started a family, and now run a manuka honey farm. Incredibly, he only took up Para badminton three years ago.

Speaking from the Porte de la Chapelle Arena, Klopp said of Czyz’s performance: “I enjoyed watching the match. Well, the seven points that he [Wojtek] won, ha ha ha,” he said jokingly, acknowledging the 21-5 21-2 result against Great Britain’s No.1 seed, Daniel Bethell.

“I sat next to his incredible wife, Elena, and we both had tears in our eyes. Sport can be about results and winning, but there’s much more behind his story. He’s 44-years-old. I can’t get my head around it.

“Yes, he played the best in the world today, but I enjoyed every second of it. We celebrated each point and we kept going. It was pure joy. I couldn’t be prouder of Wojtek and to be here.”

Czyz said of the experience: “Maybe it wasn’t the best match to have Jurgen watch me, when you’re playing against the best in the world. I think you’re looking at the gold medallist right there.

“But we’re here to advocate the sport for the future. If we can do something and that gives the next generation access to disabled sport and better support, then that’s great.

“With Jurgen’s presence, I think it’s a great statement that we need for Para badminton and that makes me very proud of him, and I’m really thankful for that.”

For the ex-Liverpool man, being in Paris for the Paralympics and supporting Wojtek is part of his quest to help increase the exposure of Para sports.

“I went to the Opening Ceremony and it was spectacular, like a Taylor Swift concert. I saw China and Brazil with these huge delegations of athletes and I was blown away. I didn’t expect that.

“The greatest stories are in Para sports. I am always trying to watch as many Para events as possible and it’s made easier these days with streaming. The whole thing has been wonderful and I’m just glad to support my friend,” said a smiling Klopp.

世界羽毛球联合会（BWF）宣布2022汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛将不继续在中国广州举办。

赛事将迁往泰国曼谷Nimibutr体育馆举办，由于场馆档期和比赛地变更，比赛日期为12月7日至11日，比广州原计划日期提前一周。

世界羽联经与中国羽毛球协会（CBA）协商后同意，鉴于目前疫情形势带来的各种挑战，易地举办2022汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛。

世界羽联感谢中国羽毛球协会、广州市政府和广州市体育局所作的出色工作。

世界羽联还要感谢泰国羽毛球协会在这么短的时间内为2022汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛提供替代举办地点。

2022汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛的参赛运动员名单将在11月22日澳大利亚公开赛结束后确认。

世界羽联确认，2022年汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛将于12月14日至18日在广州举办。这是继2019年之后，中国大陆首次举办国际羽毛球巡回赛。

本赛季各单项最顶尖的八位/组球员将在广州天河体育馆标志性的红色地胶上争夺赛季末的最高荣誉，以及羽毛球史上最高的奖金池——150万美元。

世界羽联秘书长托马斯·伦德表示，国际羽毛球巡回赛再次回到中国对这项运动来说是积极的一步。

伦德说：“汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛是我们一年中最重要的赛事之一，我们很高兴能与中国羽协、广州市政府和我们的主要合作伙伴汇丰银行合作，将总决赛带回广州。”

“我们也感谢中国政府向世界顶级羽毛球运动员发出邀请，我们仍然有信心，我们的东道主将以最高标准为运动员提供安全和舒适的总决赛。”

“广州已经在2018年和2019年举办了两届精彩的汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛，我们期待着为中国的球迷们再次举办一场羽球盛会。”

赛季缩短

即将在10月和11月举行的巡回赛是球员们争夺总决赛积分的最后机会，伦德也确认了2022中国常州公开赛(超级1000)和2022中国福州公开赛(超级750)已被取消。

伦德表示：“遗憾的是，原本在常州和福州举办两站公开赛的计划将无法推进。对于羽毛球界来说，这是至关重要的一年，我们非常自豪能够举办汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛的绝大部分比赛。现在的焦点转向了未来几周将举办的汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛和赛季末的总决赛，在未来几周球员们将为了更多的积分而奋战。”

2022年道达尔能源世界羽联羽毛球世锦赛五个单项决赛选手全部产生。中国队在女单、女双和混双项目中各获一个决赛席位，分别是：陈雨菲、陈清晨/贾一凡和郑思维/黄雅琼。其中陈雨菲击败戴资颖，中国队女单时隔八年重返世锦赛决赛。

中国男单选手赵俊鹏以20-22、6-21不敌泰国选手昆拉武特，无缘决赛，获得其职业生涯第一块世锦赛铜牌。昆拉武特成为了世界羽联世锦赛男单决赛中第一位泰国选手，将在决赛中面对安赛龙。

昆拉武特赛后采访时说道：“我很高兴，这是我第二次参加世锦赛。在第一局比赛中我确实犯了一些错误，但在第二局比赛中我可以很好地控制球。我的注意力集中在控制上，因为球场有风。我期待着在决赛中与安赛龙交手。我想向他学习，他是如何在每场比赛中都打得那么好。我没有压力，因为他是最受欢迎的。”

另一场男单半决赛，安赛龙以2-0的战绩击败了周天成，在第二局14比16落后的情况下，安赛龙积极调整心态，并在接下来的8分中拿下了7分，终结了比赛的悬念。

“我很高兴我在第二局比赛中取得了进步。对手给了我很大的困难，但在精神上，我成功地加快了步伐，这意味着我可以赢得比赛。我告诉自己，我必须专注于每一分，认真防守。我做到了，并且赢得了一些关键的分数。”关于决赛，安赛龙说：“我对自己现在的状态非常满意，我很享受。我不会考虑谁是弱者，谁不是。我期待着明天一场精彩的比赛。这将是艰难的。”

女单决赛将由奥运会冠军陈雨菲对阵卫冕冠军山口茜。半决赛中，陈雨菲以15-21丢掉首局后，以21-14、21-18连扳两局，成为李雪芮在2014年世锦赛获得亚军以后，首位打入女单决赛的中国队选手。山口茜在另外一场比赛中快速战胜了韩国选手安洗莹，晋级决赛。

陈雨菲在赛后采访时表示：“因为这次比赛球比较慢，在场上对抗的拍数会很多，自己在比赛中一直没有放弃，通过多拍相持去逼迫对手失误。”谈到决赛，陈雨菲坦言“全力以赴展示最好的自己，不留遗憾。”

女双比赛中，头号种子陈清晨/贾一凡迎战日本组合松本麻佑/永原和可那，陈清晨/贾一凡以21-13、21-14击败曾同为两届世锦赛冠军的松本麻佑/永原和可那，将与韩国组合金昭映/孔熙容争夺冠军，后者在半决赛中以2-1险胜泰国组合菩提塔/沙西丽。

混双半决赛，头号种子郑思维/黄雅琼经过三局苦战，以21-16、12-21、21-10战胜了队友王懿律/黄东萍，第三次闯入决赛。他们决赛的对手是日本组合渡边勇大/东野有纱。

中国羽毛球双打传奇赵芸蕾入选2022年世界羽毛球联合会（BWF）名人堂，一同入选的还有与其同时代征战羽坛的印尼双打名将莉莉亚娜·纳西尔。

赵芸蕾是她那个时代最全能的双打运动员。 在很长一段时间内，她在混双和女双两个项目中的统治地位无人能及。退役后， 她成为了史上最优秀的羽毛球运动员之一——细数她职业生涯中所获得的冠军头衔，包括两枚奥运会金牌和五枚世锦赛金牌。

世界羽毛球联合会主席保罗·埃里克·霍耶对赵芸蕾入选BWF名人堂表示祝贺。

他说，“入选世界羽联名人堂是对羽毛球运动员最大的致敬。名人堂旨在表彰精英中的精英，赵芸蕾当之无愧地占有一席之地。赢得奥运会或世锦赛金牌是大多数运动员的梦想，而赵芸蕾取得了这两项大赛的双冠王，这是一项了不起的成就。”

Click Here for the BWF Hall of Fame Honour Roll

赵芸蕾将于2022年6月24日周五下午两点举办的线上典礼和媒体活动中正式被官方授誉。

世界羽毛球联合会(以下简称：BWF)的2024年巴黎奥运会参赛资格规则已经得到国际奥委会(以下简称：IOC)的批准。巴黎奥运会积分周期将于2023年5月1日开始持续到2024年4月28日，以2024年4月30日的奥运积分排名名单来确定。

羽毛球参赛总名额为172个(男86个，女86个)，除常规名额(166个)外，还包括2个主办国名额和4个额外名额。每个国家或地区协会派出的男女运动员的名额都不得超过8个。

单打

在每个单打项目中，国家或地区协会至少需要两位球员排在奥运积分前16位，才能获得两个满额参赛名额。共有35个名额，一个东道国名额，两个额外名额。额外名额将在资格期结束后由三方委员会确定。每个单打项目还必须至少有两名来自五大洲协会的运动员，前提是他们的排名在前250名之内。

双打

在每个双打项目中，国家或地区协会至少需要两组球员排在奥运积分前8位，才能获得两个满额参赛名额。每个双打项目还必须至少有一对来自五大洲协会的运动员，前提是他们的排名在前50名之内。

考虑到所有项目的参赛资格，没有任何国家或地区协会可以在单个项目中派出超过2组以上运动员。

在国际奥委会官网上查看已批准的2024年巴黎奥运会参赛资格规则。

世界羽联确认将有大批印尼选手退出将于12月12日在西班牙韦尔瓦举行的2021道达尔能源世锦赛。

印尼羽毛球协会(PBSI)周三上午宣布了这一消息，表达了与新冠肺炎疫情相关的担忧。还有一小部分印尼选手仍在签表中。

世界羽联对PBSI的决定感到失望，并对在抽签后退出感到遗憾。

然而，世界羽联和西班牙羽毛球联合会目前正根据地方和国家卫生当局制定的建议和措施，包括针对所有运动员、团队官员和主要利益攸关方的一套全面的安全协议，集中精力举办一场安全、成功的世锦赛。

此外男单卫冕冠军、世界第二桃田贤斗因伤退出比赛，世界羽联也确认了这一不幸消息。桃田贤斗还退出了上周的2021汇丰世界羽联世界巡回赛总决赛，并已返回日本。

混双7号种子陈炳顺和吴柳莹在搭档13年后宣布解散，并退出世锦赛。

大多数球员现在已经安全抵达韦尔瓦并进入了“安全泡泡”。第一轮比赛将于当地时间周日上午10点开始。目前没有重新抽签的计划。

2021尤尼克斯法国公开赛男双决赛中，韩国老将组合高成炫/申白喆击败了世界排名第一吉迪恩/苏卡穆约，自2019年澳大利亚公开赛后再次夺得男双冠军。

这是属于两位老将的标志性胜利，他们用韩国的传统打法击败了世界最顶级的男双组合。34岁的高成炫和32岁的申白喆是2016年里约奥运会后退役的几对顶级男双选手之一；他们于2018年复出，但复出之旅磕磕绊绊。与此同时，小黄人组合将自己塑造成里约后男双一代的佼佼者。

但韩国老将今天的表现表明，他们的技术仍旧是最顶级的；不管对手的什么球，他们都用顽强的防守化解；他们调动苏卡穆约让他无法发挥前场的实力，当机会来临时，他们由守转攻一击制胜。

高成炫获得了他的第三个法国公开赛冠军(前两次分别搭档李龙大和金荷娜），申白喆获得了他的第一个法国公开赛冠军。“在来这里之前，我们都不认为我们能赢，”高成炫说。“每次胜利后，我们都感觉更好，今天我们超级开心。几年前我们离开了国家队，在疫情之后，这是我们第一次进入高级别赛事决赛，所以这对我们来说真的很重要。”

“与年轻选手相比，我们体能限制很大，所以很难跟上他们。我们有经验，这对我们今天很有帮助。这取决于具体情况。也许今天我们的处理得比对手好。他们真的是很好的球员。很难把他们和我们同时代的人相比。即使在那时，也有很多人比我们更好。”

申白喆说：“我们没有任何遗憾。但在我们不打球的那段时间里，我们对自己的未来感到不安。现在我们很高兴我们今天做到了。这是我第一次在法国参加决赛，所以意义重大。在这之后，我们将对未来的重大比赛更有信心。”

他们的的同胞李绍熙和申昇瓒早些时候以21-17、21-12击败队友金昭映/孔熙容获得了女双冠军，继2019年后再次登上最高领奖台。

Click here for results

2021道达尔能源世界羽联苏迪曼杯总决赛决赛中，卫冕冠军中国队以3-1击败日本队，第12次捧起苏迪曼杯。

纵观全场比赛，双方都展现了超强水准，年轻的球员们表现出了与久经沙场的球星们一样的抗压能力。在上一届苏迪曼杯上，日本队以0-3被中国队击败，这次他们试图推翻这一结果，但他们不得不再次区居亚军。

中国队教练张军谈到了对年轻队员的信任，以及他们在这场重大赛事中坚守立场的能力。让一位球员上两个单项的计划被搁置，中国选择了何济霆和周昊东参加男双。

结果如愿以偿。保木卓朗/小林优吾在一个多小时的时间里与中国的年轻队员进行了战斗，但日本人错误地过度依赖防守。在比赛的最后阶段，何济霆/周昊东始终保持着进攻的活力，帮助中国队取得了领先。

“我们在四分之一决赛中输给了丹麦，我们吸取了教训——我们试着更有耐心，”周昊东说。

在上届苏迪曼杯决赛中，山口茜输给了陈雨菲。今天山口一心要进攻。日本人不愿意在对抗赛中留下遗憾，她保持着陈雨菲难以跟上的速度。即使当她的对手找到空档时，山口茜也依靠着顽强的跑动进行补救。正是这种更顽强的风格帮助山口茜赢得了比赛，因为陈雨菲在其他方面还是一如既往的精确和稳定。

“上一届苏迪曼杯我也是同样的情况，但我输了，所以我不想重蹈覆辙。而且，她是奥运会金牌得主，所以我决定挑战她。”山口说。“我只是想打一场稳定的比赛。我知道她打了几场长时间的比赛，一定会累的。我没有打过这么多长时间的比赛，所以我很有活力。”

在一场高质量的开局之后，男单比赛出现了最令人好奇的转折。开局似乎消耗了石宇奇太多精力，因此他放弃了第二局，把所有精力留到第三局上。无论是这一周累积的疲劳，还是仅仅精神上的压力，桃田贤斗又一次输了。世界第一面对石宇奇的不断高强度进攻，并没有什么办法能够应对，最终石宇奇以2-1击败对手，使中国队以2-1领先。

桃田否认疲劳是他在第三局比赛中有点无精打采的原因。“我被对手的进攻能力压垮了，所以我输了。我没有那么累，但我找不到赢球的方法。”

石宇奇在庆祝他2019年7月受伤复出后的最佳时刻时，承诺要比受伤前更好。“我放弃了第二局以恢复我的体力。我必须把所有的精力都放在第三局比赛上。我有90%的最佳状态。赢得比赛是一件很棒的事情，但我的目标不是回到以前的水平——我要达到以前水平的120% !”

日本最后的希望寄托在女双临时组合上，松本麻佑/松友美佐纪给陈清晨/贾一凡造成了不小的麻烦。中国组合一路经受着考验，她们表现出了出色的气质，关键时刻下手更加果断。

随着21-17 21-16的胜利，苏迪曼杯留在了中国。“奥运会之后,这个冠军让我们可以再次激励我们的队员，”张军说，“我们本届苏杯男双阵容上不是最完美的，对泰国和丹麦我们有一些困难，但我们决定让年轻球员上场，我们信任他们的能力，他们今天做的很好。”
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2021道达尔能源世界羽联苏迪曼杯总决赛 第三比赛日中，桃田贤斗率领的日本队5-0击败英格兰队，将与马来西亚队争夺小组头名位置。

在东京奥运会小组赛阶段被淘汰之后，球迷对桃田的状态充满了好奇。今天，在D组日本对阵英格兰的比赛中，渡边勇大/东野有纱帮助日本取得领先后，桃田贤斗在与世界排名第205位的托尔森的比赛中，看上去与巅峰时期的状态还相距甚远。

日本人经常被托尔森的杀直线所击溃，这位22岁的英格兰球员打得非常轻松，然而最后一记发球将优势拱手让给了桃田，他在第一局比赛中获得了信心，并在没有进一步失误的情况下结束了比赛。

“一开始我非常紧张，无法发挥自己的能力。接近第二局的时候，我让自己冷静下来，控制住自己的比赛。”

“我希望在专注度方面有所提高。我今天很紧张，不能专注于一件事。不过，好在我能让自己冷静下来。”

托尔森说，他对自己的表现感到惊讶。

“这对我来说绝对是一个惊喜，我不知道他是否感到紧张。很高兴看到我的扣杀能够穿透他的防守。我认为这对我来说绝对是一个巨大的信心助推器，能够在与世界上最好的球员的比赛中取得这样的成绩。我想在未来面对每一个球员时都这样做。”

本·莱恩和文迪不敌古贺辉/斋藤太一，没能阻止日本队。 山口茜以21-16/21-12击败霍尔顿，之后志田千阳/松山奈未在与布里奇/史密斯的比赛中直落两局，帮助日本队5-0完胜英格兰队。

在另一场B组比赛中，马来西亚以5比0击败埃及，而在B组中，中华台北以5比0击败德国，韩国以同样的优势击败了塔希提岛。

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In due course, it is near-certain that Tomoka Miyazaki will be the spearhead of Japan’s women’s singles campaigns. Just not yet. For the moment, it’s still Akane Yamaguchi.

Teenager Miyazaki, enjoying a meteoric rise and breaking into the top 10 in January, was challenging her senior in the quarterfinals of the YONEX All England, a stage that Yamaguchi has excelled in over the years. Having beaten Yamaguchi at their last meeting in September, and with Yamaguchi playing her first tournament in three months, the challenger had the edge.

For a significant portion of their quarterfinal clash, the schoolgirl was her brilliant best. Playing the exact lengths and angles needed to hold Yamaguchi back, Miyazaki had two game points in the first.

Once those opportunities were lost the momentum shifted. Miyazaki fought gamely but Yamaguchi capitalised on small openings. The 26-24 21-16 result saw her into the semifinals.

How important was it for Yamaguchi to show she was still Japan’s best?

“I’m not too fastidious about having to prove that I’m No.1,” said Yamaguchi. “That’s not motivation or pressure. However it’s wonderful to see young, strong players from the same country and that gives me motivation that I have to keep up, so I have lots to learn from these players and we’d like to motivate each other and grow together.”

Miyazaki, she conceded, was a rare talent – “persistent and patient, able to stay focussed during difficult times”.

“She has strengths that are unique for a Japanese player. She’s good at attacking but at the same time she is cautious and composed. She has speed in shots and variety as well, she is very skilful, which is not something you get by practising. I think she’s gifted. She has tremendous potential especially in her attacking ability.”

In her understated way Yamaguchi explained why this achievement meant much to her: “This is such a prestigious tournament, and to be able to play in the semfiinals is a privilege. It’s not the kind of experience that will come along a lot in my playing career, so I’m grateful. The spectators here are wonderful, they observe quietly during the rally and when we play well they celebrate us with their applause. So to be able to play as many matches as possible in front of such an audience is a great pleasure.

“My condition is not 100 per cent at the moment, so I anticipated a difficult match. I don’t know yet who my semifinal opponent will be, but it will be a top player, and I will do my best and try to have fun at the same time.”

And while Miyazaki will have to await her time, her performance showed she is picking up the tricks of the trade quickly. Still in school, she is already world No.8 and challenging for the biggest titles. A decade ago Yamaguchi was in this position.

“There were tremendously long rallies and it was really hard,” Miyazaki said, her voice a whisper. “However there were some points when I led the game but I couldn’t catch up. So I have some regrets, but I would like to keep up my good work.

“I joined Akane in training camp for the first time and I was shocked by her speed, it was so different from anyone else that I had seen. I’ve played her three times, and like other players, it’s a struggle to score against her, because she is so patient. So I hope I can be like her.”

→Results

The last of the defending champions fell in an absorbing second round match on a day when a dizzying number of seeds crashed at the YONEX All England 2025.

Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto saved seven match points against new combination Kang Min Hyuk/Ki Dong Ju, but in keeping with the theme of the day’s proceedings, ultimately fell after 80 minutes in a cracker of a match, 21-18 25-27 23-21.

Among the casualties were defending champions Jonatan Christie and Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee, besides top contenders Anders Antonsen, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and women’s doubles No.8 seeds Kim Hye Jeong/Kong Hee Yong.

Kim and Kong have enjoyed a fabulous run since they got together late last year, and arrived at the All England with two titles from three back-to-back finals. Their run however ended against a pair who have a special relationship with the All England.

India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela – daughter of 2001 All England champion Pullela Gopichand – and twice semifinalists, gave as good as they got in a match featuring extended bouts of heavy hitting. The Indians took down the in-form Koreans in a marathon match lasting 87 minutes, 15-21 21-18 21-19.

“We came in knowing that there would be long rallies,” said Pullela. “The first game didn’t go our way but in the second we changed our strategy and we started attacking more. Towards the end there were a lot of nerves, there was a lot of pressure, but we handled it well. The All England is very prestigious; Whenever we play here we give 200 per cent. Everything is different and I love playing here.”

Three title contenders in men’s singles – defending champion Christie, Denmark Open champion Antonsen and world champion Vitidsarn – were outplayed, all in straight games.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Christie, beaten in 36 minutes by Lakshya Sen. “I feel the shuttle was very hard to control. It was a little windy and I couldn’t control the shuttle and my strokes. I made too many mistakes and I wasn’t confident enough in the first game. It’s very tough for me because I lost too many points, but it is what it is.”

Antonsen, on the other hand, was fulsome in his praise for his vanquisher Wang Tzu Wei, who, he said, was perfect in the execution of his unorthodox tactics.

“He was very good today, put it all on the line, played as risky as he could. And he succeeded with absolutely everything. His execution in every day was brilliant today,” said Antonsen.

“Nothing really went well for me. The quality in my strokes, my ability to defend, my net, lifts… nothing really worked well, but I think it’s credit to him, he put it all on the line. He is an unorthodox player and character on court as well, so you need to be able to cope with that as well. I have been many times, but today was one of those times when he hit his absolute best. On those days he’s a dangerous guy.”

Vitidsarn was up against an opponent who has made giant strides lately – Alex Lanier.  Having split honours in two meetings this year, the contest was always in the balance, but after a close first game it was Lanier who pushed the right buttons to close it out in straight games, 22-20 21-15.

“I was able to adapt to the conditions and the opponent, and find the solutions today,” said Lanier. “Maybe before the tournament I thought the conditions would be harder. When we practiced on the first day, it was terrible to play, so I was ready and confident that I could adapt. I felt I was able to play well in these conditions.”

→Results 

It is likely that, at the very end of their international careers, Gregory Mairs and Jenny Mairs stumbled upon a truth that had evaded them all along.

In six previous campaigns at the YONEX All England, the mixed doubles duo hadn’t won a round in the mixed doubles main draw. Now, having announced their retirement before the YONEX All England 2025, it was if they’d slipped on an invincible cloak.

“What is going on?!” asked Gregory Mairs as he walked into the mixed zone after their second successive win, a quarterfinals spot at their last international appearance coming via a 21-19 21-16 result over Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong/Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat. Cheering them on were fans with banners of ‘Badminton Insight’ — their YouTube channel that has built up a sizeable following worldwide.

It was the manner of their victories – their uninhibited play — that has stood out. After years of heartache at the All England, their final appearance has seen them go furthest in the tournament they hold so dear.

Rather than let the occasion get to them, they were soaring on the crowd’s energy. What explained this?

Greg Mairs paused at the question.

“To be honest, I think… maybe the crowd has helped… and I think it’s put off our opponents?”

Jenny offered: ”I don’t know, I think in the last few years there’s always been a great crowd here. But I think knowing now like we’ve got fans in the crowd with big ‘Badminton Insight’ banners and knowing that that crowd is there for us really does push on so much and I think that’s what makes it extra special.”

What was odd, Greg surmised, was that they weren’t playing significantly better, but ”just those crucial points that sometimes a match can be won or lost by, they’ve just gone our way. Like so many line calls that were just far out… it’s almost like… fate. It’s meant to be.”

Then Jenny nailed it. It was, she said, the focus away from results and outcomes that was working in their favour. All along, they had been constrained by thoughts of what the results would entail.

“I think in the past maybe we would have been, like maybe 16-14 or something in that second game and probably what was going on in our minds was thinking of the ranking points — if we win this, etcetera etcetera, and all the tournaments we could then get into, but as you know it’s our last tournament, so now we’re not thinking about those things, we’re just trying to have fun and enjoy every rally, so I think that might make the difference.”

Greg: “We should have ignored ranking points and results and just had fun.”

→Results