TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese badminton player Lee Chia-hao (李佳豪) clinched the runner-up position at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) All England Open on Sunday (March 16) after a hard-fought match against China's Shi Yuqi (石宇奇). Despite his loss, Lee's performance marked a significant milestone as he reached the men's singles final for the first time.
Lee battled Shi for 51 minutes, ultimately falling short with scores of 17-21 and 19-21. According to Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社), Shi commended Lee's performance, stating, "The way he was hitting the ball did limit me. I was going to lose this match, but my opponent's error rate was still a bit high when it came to key moments." CNA reported that Taiwanese coach Jay Feng (馮勝杰) praised Lee's fast-paced and varied playing style, which challenged Shi, but emphasized the need to reduce errors during crucial moments.
Reflecting on his journey, Lee acknowledged the importance of maintaining peak conditions against high-level opponents and continuously varying rhythm and technique to score effectively. He noted a mental shift after early exits in previous tournaments, including last year's Taipei Open, which enhanced his performance.
Lee remarked with a smile that his initial goal at the All England Open was to win just one match, so reaching the final and securing second place felt like a personal victory. As Lee continues to refine his skills, the badminton community eagerly anticipates his future endeavors on the international stage.