CHANGZHOU, China, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — China’s Weng Hongyang continued his outstanding run at the prestigious badminton China Open, advancing to the men’s singles final after a thrilling victory over Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie on Saturday.

Ranked world No. 25, Weng had a balanced 2-2 head-to-head record against the seventh-seeded Christie before this encounter. However, Weng had lost their last two meetings, including a round of 32 defeat at the previous year’s China Open, making this win particularly significant.

Despite starting slowly, Weng showcased his resilience by scoring four consecutive points midway through the first set, ultimately claiming it 21-17. In the second set, Christie surged ahead to an 18-15 lead, but Weng mounted a spectacular comeback with a decisive 6-0 run, clinching a 21-18 victory. This triumph propelled Weng into his first-ever BWF World Tour Super 1000 final.

Reflecting on the match, Christie acknowledged Weng’s prowess, stating, “I think Weng is playing very well. Hopefully he can be the champion.”

Weng himself remarked on his journey back to form: “I am currently adjusting my state and constantly trying to get the feel for competitions. Indeed, I went for a long period without competing due to my back injury, but now I am gradually regaining some confidence in matches.”

The 25-year-old will face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the final. Naraoka earned his spot after defeating Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in another intense semifinal match on Saturday.

In women’s doubles action, Li Wenmei and Zhang Shuxian triumphed over their fellow Chinese compatriots Jia Yifan and Zheng Yu in straight sets. This victory set up an all-Chinese final against Li Yijing and Luo Xumin, who secured a 2-0 win over South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong.

In the women’s singles category, third seed Wang Zhiyi of China advanced to the final with a solid 21-15, 21-18 win over Japan’s seventh seed Aya Ohori. The 24-year-old Wang will now compete against Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki in Sunday’s final.

Elsewhere in the tournament, China’s mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping, along with men’s doubles duo He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu, both progressed to their respective finals with commanding straight-set victories. These successes present host China with an exciting opportunity to potentially sweep all five titles at the China Open.

This year’s China Open has not only highlighted individual brilliance but also underscored China’s dominant presence in the sport of badminton. As the finals approach, fans eagerly anticipate whether China will indeed secure victories across all categories, solidifying their prowess on home soil.