CAN Shi Yuqi lead China to an unprecedented third consecutive men’s team gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
China will face Indonesia in today’s final at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi in a repeat of the Jakarta-Palembang 2018 title clash, which they won 3-1.
Yuqi was also China’s first men’s singles player in that final and delivered a point by beating Anthony Ginting.
Eight years on, he remains China’s first singles and will be looking to take advantage of Jonatan Christie’s inconsistent form.
Today’s final also gives Yuqi a chance to rebuild his reputation after a difficult run of form in recent months, which included an early exit at the World Championships in New Delhi last month.
Yuqi has been impressive so far and helped China beat India 3-1 in the semi-finals yesterday.
He gave China the opening point with a 21-16, 21-18 win over Lakshya Sen.
China were then pegged back when Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang lost 11-21, 20-22 to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, but Li Shifeng restored their lead by beating Ayush Shetty 21-19, 21-13.
Scratch pair He Jiting-Liu Yi then secured China’s place in the final with a 21-16, 17-21, 21-19 win over Amsakarunan Hariharan-M.R. Arjun.
Indonesia, meanwhile, ended Thailand’s hopes of reaching the final with a 3-1 victory.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn gave Thailand the opening point by beating Jonatan 21-17, 21-14 before Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri levelled the score with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
Alwi Farhan then put Indonesia ahead after beating Puritat Arree 21-15, 21-13.
Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin sealed the victory by overcoming Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Worrapol Thongsa-nga 21-15, 21-13.
No country has won the men’s team gold at three consecutive Asian Games since the event was introduced in Jakarta in 1962.
China came close to achieving the feat after winning back-to-back titles at Doha 2006 and Guangzhou 2010, but their run was ended by South Korea at Incheon 2014.
China could add another gold medal to their haul when their women’s team take on Japan in the final today.
China cruised past Indonesia 3-0 in the semi-finals yesterday, while Japan beat South Korea 3-1 to book their place in the title clash.
RESULTS
SEMI-FINALS
Men: Indonesia bt Thailand 3-1 (Jonatan Christie lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn 17-21, 14-21; Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri bt Sukphun Peeratchai-Teeraratsakul Pakkapon 21-13, 21-19; Alwi Farhan bt Puritat Arree 21-15, 21-13; Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin bt Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Worrapol Thongsa-Nga 21-15, 21-13); China bt India 3-1 (Shi Yuqi bt Lakshya Sen 21-16, 21-18; Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang lost to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 11-21, 20-22; Li Shifeng bt Ayush Shetty 21-19, 21-13; He Jiting-Liu Yi bt Hariharan Amsakarunan-M.R Ajun 21-16, 17-21, 21-9).
Women: Japan bt South Korea 3-1 (Akane Yamaguchi lost to An Se-young 9-21, 21-18, 11-21; Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto bt Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee 21-15, 21-19; Tomoka Miyazaki bt Sim Yu-jin 21-15, 21-14; Rin Uesaka-Kie Nakanishi bt Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jong 22-20, 21-16); China bt Indonesia 3-0 (Wang Zhiyi bt Putri Kusuma 21-15, 22-20; Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning bt Rachel Allesya-Febi Setianingrum 21-15, 21-18; Chen Yufei bt Mutiara Ayu 21-15, 21-12).
