top Chinese badminton Player Wang Zhiyi Suffers Shock Defeat at China Masters
Fuzhou, China – In a stunning upset at the China masters Badminton tournament on September 19, 2025, world-class Chinese player Wang Zhiyi was defeated by South Korean competitor Kim Ga-eun in the women’s singles quarterfinals. The loss marks a significant surprise in the Super 750 event, following Wang Zhiyi’s recent victory at the Hong Kong Open (a super 500 competition).
The defeat came after Wang Zhiyi secured the first set with a decisive 21-13 win. Though, Kim Ga-eun mounted a dramatic comeback, winning the second set 21-17 and ultimately taking the match 11-21 in the third. Despite strong support from the home crowd, Wang Zhiyi appeared to falter under pressure, making crucial errors in the final set.
Kim Ga-eun, currently ranked 17th in the world, previously lost to Nguyen to Lin at the 2024 German Open. her victory over Wang Zhiyi, who recently demonstrated “notable skills” at the Hong Kong Open, positions her as a strong contender in the semi-finals.
The semi-final matchups are now set: Kim Ga-eun will face world No. 3 Han Yue, while second-ranked Ahn Se-young of korea will compete against Japan’s Yamaguchi.In men’s singles, China’s Hong Yang (world ranking 12th) advanced to the semi-finals and will play against France’s Cristopopov. The men’s singles bracket remains largely intact with top seeds shi Yuqi, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Jonathan Christie, and Loh Kean Yew still in contention.