China’s Shi ‘genuinely chuffed’ after winning World Badminton Championships gold
World No 1 outlasts reigning champion Thai reigning champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in one hour and 17 minutes
China’s Shi Yuqi said he was “genuinely chuffed” after beating Thai reigning champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the men’s singles badminton world championship final on Sunday.
World No 1 Shi outlasted Kunlavut 19-21, 21-10, 21-18 after one hour and 17 minutes on court in Paris to claim his first world championships crown.
“People often perceive me as performing better in team events. But in individual competitions, I always give my utmost effort,” Shi told reporters.
“This time, finally securing my first individual world championship title makes me so delighted.”
The 29-year-old broke his worlds hoodoo the hard way, saving two match points in his semi-final and enduring three-game matches from the third round.
“I fought six matches in this tournament, each one incredibly tough. Many were matches I nearly lost but managed to turn around. So clinching it in the end felt incredibly hard-won,” added Shi.