HANGZHOU, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) — Women’s badminton BIG 4 all confirmed up on Friday on the Hangzhou Asian Games, because the world’s prime 4 gamers started their matches of crew occasion on the identical time, attracting virtually all the eye.
Chinese favourite and Olympic champion Chen Yufei picked up the primary level for China with a straight-game win over Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung on Court 1.
World No.1 An Se-young of South Korea beat Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq from the Maldives in a lopsided 21-1, 21-5 victory on Court 3 in beneath 20 minutes.
On Court 2, Chinese Taipei icon Tai Tzu-ying confronted Japanese prime participant Akane Yamaguchi in some of the keenly adopted matches, which resulted in Tai’s favor after her opponent’s harm retirement earlier than Yamaguchi’s teammates received three consecutive matches to eradicate Chinese Taipei.
Chen, An, Tai, and Yamaguchi are the highest stars in girls’s badminton, no matter energy or impression, whereas within the males’s singles, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and different masters kind the “only superpower and multi-great power” sample.
The BIG 4 unsurprisingly swept the final 4 on the China Open earlier this month, and are deemed the favorites for the singles gold medal on the Asian Games.
An grew to become South Korea’s first world champion in August and has been extensively considered the most effective shuttler after successful 9 titles in 12 tournaments this season.
The teenager’s blazing kind contrasts with a humble mindset, because the 21-year-old seems to have the form of character solely veterans possess.
“They all have more experience than me, and it was not easy every time I play against them,” An instructed Xinhua in the course of the China Open.
“Sometimes I wonder if I can match them. They are all very good players,” she mentioned.
In the meantime, An’s emergence couldn’t overshadow the opposite three superstars, as every of the “BIG 4” has her personal technical traits.
“Chen’s attack is very strong, Tai’s technique is versatile, and when facing Yamaguchi, I don’t know to which direction she will hit the ball every time, she is a player with great speed and control,” An mentioned.
Each of those 4 gamers, as An identified, has their very own “killer punch”.
Two-time world champion Yamaguchi was nicknamed “Little Motor” by Chinese followers, describing her wonderful pace and tempo. But her journey on the Asian Games stays with uncertainty on account of harm.
Chen, the deserved chief of China’s squad, is technically versatile and has developed a extra strong mentality within the final two years, whereas Tai has been hailed for her tactical adaptability.
Interestingly, the 4’s vastly numerous personalities have regularly been a speaking matter, as Chen said, “An is enthusiastic and confident, Tai is happy and spontaneous, and Yamaguchi and I are calm on the outside and carry responsibility on the inside.”
Their private relationship is unaffected by the rivalry on courtroom as they all the time trade presents earlier than matches and work together on social media.