Hangzhou, China — Chou Tien-chen (周天成), the veteran Taiwanese badminton player, made a remarkable comeback on Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals. In a thrilling match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Chou secured a 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory over Denmark’s top-seeded Anders Antonsen, clinching his spot in the tournament’s semifinals.
Chou’s Path to Semifinals
At 34 years old, Chou is the oldest player among the eight men’s singles contenders at this year’s BWF World Tour Finals. Despite his age, Chou’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, ensuring his second appearance in the semifinals at this prestigious tournament. His previous best finish was a bronze medal in 2020.
Chou had previously faced setbacks during the group stages, losing to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia (李梓嘉) and China’s Li Shifeng (李詩灃) on Wednesday and Thursday. However, an unexpected withdrawal by Lee from his Friday match due to injury gave Chou the opportunity to advance. The match between Chou and Antonsen became a decisive “win-or-go-home” scenario for the Taiwanese athlete.
A Tense Decider
The encounter between Chou and Antonsen was tense from the start, with both players splitting the first two games. The deciding third game saw the score tied multiple times, but Chou gained momentum after the score reached 9-8. A decisive 5-0 run in the final stages helped Chou seal the win, much to the delight of his supporters.
The group stages wrapped up on Friday with Antonsen finishing in first place and Chou securing the second spot in Group A. From Group B, China’s Shi Yuqi (石宇奇) and Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie advanced to the semifinals.
Chou Tien-chen to Face Shi Yuqi in Semifinals
Looking ahead, Chou will face world No. 1 Shi Yuqi on Saturday for a chance to advance to the final. Despite trailing Shi 4-9 in their previous encounters, Chou remains hopeful after a remarkable performance in the group stages. Notably, Shi, who was recently named the BWF Men’s Singles Player of the Year, has defeated Chou in their last three meetings.
Withdrawal of Viktor Axelsen
The 2024 BWF World Tour Finals also saw the withdrawal of Viktor Axelsen, Denmark’s reigning Olympic champion, who was unable to defend his title this year due to a left foot injury. This opened the door for other contenders, including Chou, to step into the spotlight.
BWF World Tour Finals 2024 Group Results
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| 1. Anders Antonsen (Denmark) | 1. Shi Yuqi (China) |
| 2. Chou Tien-chen (Taiwan) | 2. Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) |
| 3. Lee Zii Jia (Malaysia) | 3. Kento Momota (Japan) |
| 4. Li Shifeng (China) | 4. Axelsen (Denmark) (Withdrawn) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How old is Chou Tien-chen?
A: Chou is 34 years old, making him the oldest among the men’s singles competitors in the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals.
Q: What was the result of the match between Chou and Antonsen?
A: Chou defeated Antonsen 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Q: Who is Chou facing in the semifinals?
A: Chou will face world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in the semifinals.
Q: Why was Lee Zii Jia unable to play his match against Li Shifeng?
A: Lee Zii Jia withdrew from his match due to an injury, despite winning the first game.
Q: Who withdrew from the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals?
A: Viktor Axelsen, Denmark’s Olympic gold medalist, withdrew from the tournament due to a foot injury.
