Hosts claim two golds as badminton China Open concludes

Winner Fajar Alfian (1st R)/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (2nd R) and runner-up Kim Won Ho (1st L)/Seo Seung Jae pose for a group photo during the victory ceremony after the men's doubles final match between Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia and Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea at the China Open 2026 badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

CHANGZHOU, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Host China claimed two doubles titles as the China Open badminton tournament concluded here on Sunday, while Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei and Akane Yamaguchi of Japan took the men's and women's singles crowns respectively.

The mixed doubles final was an all-Chinese showdown, with Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui outlasting top seeds and defending champions Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping in a grueling 87-minute battle to seize the title.

Guo and Chen won the first game 25-23, but squandered multiple chances in the second and allowed their opponents to level with a 22-20 comeback. They regrouped to take the decider 21-15.

It was Guo and Chen's second Super 1000 title since last year's All England Open. Chen said the pair had been struggling for form coming into the tournament, but their mutual support carried them through to victory.

"We learned to absorb pressure while putting pressure on our opponents, and that's been the biggest takeaway from this tournament," Chen said.

In the women's doubles, Chinese duo Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning defended their crown with a 21-14, 21-19 victory over Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.

The win marked the young home pair's third Super 1000 title in four such tournaments they have entered this season.

Home favorite Chen Yufei came up short in the women's singles final, losing to Japanese veteran Akane Yamaguchi 21-18, 21-16 as the world champion showed superior form throughout.

In the men's singles, Chou Tien-chen, at 36, became the oldest Super 1000 winner in history after defeating France's Toma Junior Popov 21-15, 7-21, 21-13.

Also on Sunday, the men's doubles title went to Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, who downed South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 16-21, 21-19, 21-19.

The six-day tournament was held from July 21 to 26 in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. 

Chou Tien Chen celebrates after winning the men's singles final match between Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and Toma Junior Popov of France at the China Open 2026 badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Gold medalist Chou Tien Chen (R) and silver medalist Toma Junior Popov pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony after the men's singles final match between Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and Toma Junior Popov of France at the China Open 2026 badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Chou Tien Chen competes during the men's singles final match between Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and Toma Junior Popov of France at the China Open 2026 badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Gold medalist Yamaguchi Akane (R) and silver medalist Chen Yufei pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final match between Chen Yufei of China and Yamaguchi Akane of Japan at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Chen Yufei competes during the women's singles final match between Chen Yufei of China and Yamaguchi Akane of Japan at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (L) celebrate after winning the women's doubles final match between Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning of China and Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of Japan at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Liu Shengshu (2nd R)/Tan Ning (1st R) of China and Fukushima Yuki (1st L)/Matsumoto Mayu of Japan greet each other during the awarding ceremony of the women's doubles at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (L) of China pose for photos after the awarding ceremony of the women's doubles at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (front) compete during the women's doubles final match between Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning of China and Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of Japan at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Liu Shengshu (R)/Tan Ning celebrate scoring during the women's doubles final match between Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning of China and Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu of Japan at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Guo Xinwa (L)/Chen Fanghui celebrate after winning the mixed doubles final match between Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui of China at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping (L) compete during the mixed doubles final match between Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui of China at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Guo Xinwa (1st L)/Chen Fanghui (1st R) celebrate after winning the mixed doubles final match between Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui of China at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Guo Xinwa (1st R)/Chen Fanghui (2nd R) and Feng Yanzhe (2nd L)/Huang Dongping of China pose for photos during the awarding ceremony of the mixed doubles at the 2026 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Bo)