China Open 2026: Vitidsarn, Li Shifeng stunned; Sindhu and Shetty advance
Synopsis
The 2026 China Open delivered a day of shocks in Changzhou — former world champion Vitidsarn and China's own Li Shifeng both fell in the first round. But India had reasons to celebrate: Sindhu settled last year's score against Hooda and set up a blockbuster clash with Chen Yufei, while teenager Ayush Shetty avenged a 2023 junior semifinal loss by eliminating World No. 11 Alwi Farhan.
Key Takeaways
Kunlavut Vitidsarn , second seed and former world champion, lost 21-13, 8-21, 21-19 to Denmark's Rasmus Gemke in round one.
China's seventh seed Li Shifeng was eliminated by Ireland's Nhat Nguyen 12-21, 21-14, 18-21 .
Wang Zhiyi fought back to beat Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour 15-21, 21-5, 21-18 and reach the round of 16 .
Sindhu defeated Unnati Hooda 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 in 56 minutes , avenging last year's loss at the same event.
Ayush Shetty knocked out World No.
11 Alwi Farhan 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to reach the pre-quarterfinals.
The tournament concludes on Sunday in Changzhou , Jiangsu Province.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Thailand's second seed and former world champion, suffered a shock first-round exit at the 2026 China Open in Changzhou on Wednesday, 22 July, as Denmark's Rasmus Gemke edged him out 21-13, 8-21, 21-19 in a gripping three-game contest. The upset was one of several early shocks at the tournament, with China's seventh seed Li Shifeng also falling in the opening round.
Men's Singles Upsets
Vitidsarn's defeat was the headline result of the day — a former world champion undone in the first round by Denmark's Rasmus Gemke, who recovered from losing the second game to clinch the decider 21-19. The loss compounds a difficult stretch for the Thai star, who entered as one of the tournament's top contenders.
China's own Li Shifeng fared no better, falling 12-21, 21-14, 18-21 to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in another three-game thriller. The seventh seed's exit further opens up the men's singles draw.
Wang Zhiyi Battles Through
In the women's singles, home favourite Wang Zhiyi delivered a composed comeback, defeating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour 15-21, 21-5, 21-18 to advance to the round of 16. China's Han Yue also recovered from a game down to dispatch Türkiye's Neslihan Yigit 18-21, 21-7, 21-13.
Doubles Action and Indian Setbacks
Chinese doubles pairs largely dominated. Men's doubles fourth seeds Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang beat India's Hariharan Amsakarunan and Arjun Madathil Ramachandran 21-16, 21-7. Top mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping also cruised past India's Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde 21-9, 21-16.
However, China's women's doubles pair Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian were upset by Indonesia's Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum 24-22, 21-17 — a notable scalp for the Indonesian pair.
India's Bright Spots: Sindhu and Shetty Shine
P.V. Sindhu, riding high after ending her title drought at the Japan Open just days earlier, continued her strong form with a hard-fought 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 victory over fellow Indian Unnati Hooda in a contest lasting 56 minutes. The win carried added significance — Sindhu had been eliminated by the 18-year-old Hooda at the same tournament last year, and this time the two-time Olympic medallist ensured there was no repeat.
Sindhu's next opponent is formidable: fourth seed and former Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China. Notably, Sindhu defeated Chen during her title-winning run at last week's Japan Open, giving her genuine confidence heading into the second-round clash.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty produced the day's biggest individual upset, knocking out World No. 11 and former World Junior champion Alwi Farhan of Indonesia 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to storm into the pre-quarterfinals. The victory also served as personal redemption — Shetty had lost to Farhan in the semifinals of the 2023 World Junior Championships.
What's Next
The 2026 China Open concludes on Sunday in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. With Vitidsarn and Li Shifeng gone, the men's singles draw is wide open, while Sindhu's blockbuster second-round tie against Chen Yufei is set to be the match of the tournament so far.
Point of View
The real story is the contrast in trajectories: Sindhu, a veteran reclaiming form after a title drought, and Shetty, a youngster punching above his ranking. If Sindhu can back up her Japan Open win against Chen Yufei, it would signal a genuine return to elite consistency rather than a one-tournament peak. Shetty's win over Farhan, meanwhile, hints at a new generation of Indian men's shuttlers capable of competing at the top end of the world rankings.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kunlavut Vitidsarn lose at the 2026 China Open?
Vitidsarn, Thailand's second seed and former world champion, lost 21-13, 8-21, 21-19 to Denmark's Rasmus Gemke in the first round of the 2026 China Open in Changzhou on 22 July. Gemke recovered from losing the second game to clinch the decider, producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
How did P.V. Sindhu perform at the 2026 China Open?
Sindhu defeated fellow Indian Unnati Hooda 21-14, 9-21, 21-10 in a 56-minute first-round match. The win avenged her exit at the same tournament last year, when Hooda had eliminated her. Sindhu next faces fourth seed and former Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China.
Who did Ayush Shetty beat at the China Open 2026?
Ayush Shetty knocked out World No. 11 and former World Junior champion Alwi Farhan of Indonesia 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to reach the men's singles pre-quarterfinals. The result also avenged Shetty's loss to Farhan in the 2023 World Junior Championships semifinals.
What happened to Li Shifeng at the 2026 China Open?
China's seventh seed Li Shifeng was eliminated in the first round, losing 12-21, 21-14, 18-21 to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in a three-game contest. His exit, alongside Vitidsarn's defeat, significantly opens up the men's singles draw.
When does the 2026 China Open badminton conclude?
The 2026 China Open concludes on Sunday in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, east China. Key upcoming matches include Sindhu's second-round tie against Chen Yufei.
