Latest news with #ChouTienChen
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Chou stuns Vitidsarn in China Open quarter-finals
Chou Tien Chen will next face Chinese third seed and world No 2 Shi Yuqi in the last four. (EPA Images pic) CHANGZHOU : Taiwanese men's sixth seed Chou Tien-chen knocked out Thai top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn from the China Open badminton quarter-finals with a commanding 21-17, 21-11 win in Changzhou today, while women's world No 1 An Se-young advanced to the semi-finals. Chou outclassed Vitidsarn, the 2023 world champion and Paris Olympic silver medallist, in straight games and will next face Chinese third seed and world No 2 Shi Yuqi. Shi rallied from a set down to defeat compatriot and fifth seed Li Shifeng 15-21, 21-15, 21-11. Denmark's second seed Anders Antonsen overcame France's Toma Junior Popov 19-21, 21-12, 21-8 to cruise into the semi-finals, where he will meet China's Wang Zhengxing. In the women's singles, South Korean top seed An defeated Chinese fifth seed Chen Yufei 21-18, 21-19. An, 23, who won Olympic singles gold in Paris, will next face Chinese fourth seed Han Yue, who overcame Indonesian eighth seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-19, 21-18 in a tightly contested encounter. Chinese second seed Wang Zhiyi eased past Taiwan's Chiu Pin-Chian 21-16, 21-11 to secure a semi-final clash with Japanese third seed and former world champion Akane Yamaguchi, who defeated India's Unnati Hooda in straight sets.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Chou stuns Vitidsarn, An storms into China Open semis
CHANGZHOU: Taiwanese men's sixth seed Chou Tien Chen knocked out Thai top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn from the China Open quarter-finals with a commanding 21-17, 21-11 win in Changzhou today, while women's world No. 1 An Se Young advanced to the semi-finals. Chou outclassed Vitidsarn, the 2023 world champion and Paris Olympic silver medallist, in straight sets and will next face Chinese third seed and world No. 2 Shi Yuqi. Shi rallied from a set down to defeat compatriot and fifth seed Li Shifeng 15-21, 21-15, 21-11. Denmark's second seed Anders Antonsen overcame France's Toma Junior Popov 19-21, 21-12, 21-8 to cruise into the semi-finals, where he will meet China's Wang Zhengxing. In the women's singles, South Korean top seed An defeated Chinese fifth seed Chen Yufei 21-18 21-19. An, 23, who won Olympic singles gold in Paris, will next face Chinese fourth seed Han Yue, who overcame Indonesian eighth seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-19 21-18 in a tightly contested encounter. Chinese second seed Wang Zhiyi eased past Taiwan's Chiu Pin-Chian 21-16, 21-11 to secure a semi-final clash with Japanese third seed and former world champion Akane Yamaguchi, who defeated India's Unnati Hooda in straight sets. - REUTERS
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Cancer survivor, migrant rights advocate and crowd favourite: Badminton's gentle giant Chou Tien Chen
Another tournament, the Super 1000 Indonesia Open this time, another finals loss for Taiwanese Chou Tien Chen, losing to Danish Anders Antonsen. The 35-year-old immortal of badminton even led 20-17 in the first set. But despite having pushed aside World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn earlier, Tien Chen could not go the distance. The Indonesians at Istora – perhaps the noisiest per square metre grouping of humans yelling like crazy for mere sport – however, were undaunted. Istora adores its badminton magicians like Taufik Hidayat and Kidambi Srikanth of course. It can also get extremely intimidating if a Malaysian is up against one of their Indonesians with brutal war cries, so it's not strictly a sporting crowd at all times. But for Chou Tien Chen, there is immense, everlasting love. Antonsen would've wondered for a moment where he was, because the E-a, E-a, E-a that forms an acoustic wall of support for Tien Chen, can mess with ear drums. Their adoration for the Taiwanese is unquestionable — win or lose. For Tien Chen himself, the story always restarts, the page turns, after every loss. Especially after defeats. He is a cancer survivor. His game and shuttle control are extremely solid. You literally can't be sure that you have beaten him till you actually have beaten him. The tenacity is off the charts, and no top-10 player, much less top-25, likes to come up against him. He has an extremely chirpy trainer-psychologist-coach-cheerleader in Miss Gao Min Shan, a smiling lady who lends not just the lead vocals, but also a jumpy blurry wave of emotion that distracts opponents. 'Annoys' is a word used often. But she has helped him with spiritual mentoring and regular roles of a physio, trainer as he came out of cancer and hit the courts, and he continues to look to her as a support system. Istora + Miss Gao can be a formidable aural challenge for any opponent. But Tien Chen, called Little Day despite his considerable achievements and 6-foot-plus frame, has another army of supporters whose loyalty he has earned these last five years – poor Indonesian women migrant workers in Taiwan, and their families back home. Last December, Tien Chen put out a lengthy post for a cause that is close to his heart: the well-being of migrant workers from South East Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines — who eke out a living after travelling to Taiwan. Chou Tien Chen is back in his happy place at the Istora. 🫶#BWFWorldTour #IndonesiaOpen2025 — BWF (@bwfmedia) June 7, 2025 In a world that is literally exploding with hate, suspicion and absolute scorn for all manners of migrants, the Taiwanese had struck a rare note of empathy. Last December, he followed it with practical action as he urged his fanbase to extend warmth and put donations at the convenience stores, where Indonesian women identifiable in headscarves and rattled eyes quietly went about their labour. Tien Chen is a practising Christian, the migrants belong to various religions, but the shuttler had at some point noticed their reserve and struggles, and was rallying support for them. Negative sentiment and prejudicial stereotypes are never far behind when it concerns migrants and a section of the media's portrayal of them in Taiwan had the same bent, but Tien Chen was moved by their plight after meeting Kaixiang Chen, a fellow Taiwanese entrepreneur who started a non-profit '1-40' for migrants from the Philippines. Tien Chen's post read: 'Always wanted to say Thankyou to the migrants who came to Taiwan to work. Just yesterday at the award ceremony of Taiwan's true hero, I met Kaixiang, the winner of one-forty, very grateful he has done this. And it's been 10 years to do it,' it said. 'Now finally I have the opportunity to help migrant workers with practical action. These friends from South East Asia are already indispensable helpers in Taiwan. I hope you can support the 'family friendly workers' program. Put change at the convenience store or donate to the family app,' he would write. Having gone through cancer treatment himself and receiving the best possible medical help given he is Taiwan's ace athlete, a World Championship medallist and former World No. 2, Tien Chen was also closely privy to subjects like access to medical care. Tien Chen, a much-loved figure in Taiwan, regularly appears in de-discrimination awareness pitches, and advertisements, for AIDS patients, though it was at the peak of Covid when he first crossed paths with migrant issues. In November 2020, he urged kindness towards poor Indonesian migrants who were infected by the coronavirus and couldn't travel back. Subtly first and then directly he urged fellow Taiwanese to treat them humanely. Anders Antonsen and Chou Tien Chen go toe-to-toe for crowning glory.#BWFWorldTour #IndonesiaOpen2025 — BWF (@bwfmedia) June 8, 2025 His post back then read, 'I believe that no one willingly wants to get infected. Overseas migrant workers are mostly hardworking people at the bottom of the society, and there are insufficient resources for health, education.' An interaction with Dr Jiang Jianxin, then Taiwanese head of the infectious disease department, who told him to 'emphasise on treatment of infected, not attack on infected,' had crystallized his thoughts. Using his badminton fame and cred, he would directly address the Indonesian migrants who were fearful of being stuck away from home while the infection razed, by saying, 'Welcome to Taiwan, you are not alone. Don't worry about Covid, Taiwan medical team will take care of you. You will be ok.' It was a short note, but there was reassurance extended to the meekest of those in Taiwanese society, at a frightful point in time. And it came from a figure that Indonesians, crazy about badminton wherever they went, were familiar with. Tien Chen's own bounceback from cancer is inspiring enough. But each time he gets onto the badminton court and puts in one of his epic fights, you know giving up hasn't quite entered his mindspace. His come-from-behind wins are legendary – once at the Arctic Open against Jonatan Christie from the brink. And another at World Championships where he was 11-18 down in the decider. Istora dotes on Jojo Christie, but they have a special affection for Tien Chen. The first time they met in Indonesia, Tien Chen twice trailed Kunlavut 15-18 but went on to win the match. Last week, he once again toppled the now World No. 1 and Istora Arena celebrated like they do their own. For his sustained support of the poorest Indonesians who travel to his country as migrants, he might just be one of their own. He has earned the coveted Istora decibel.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Denmark's Antonsen wins first Indonesia Open crown
Anders Antonsen is hungry for more trophies after winning the Indonesia Open. (EPA Images pic) JAKARTA : Badminton world No 3 Anders Antonsen clinched his first Indonesia Open title today after beating Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan, while South Korea's An Se-young won her second championship in Jakarta. The 28-year-old Dane sank world No 7 Chou at the Indonesian capital's Istora Senayan arena, winning 22-20, 21-14 in a 60-minute match to secure the prestigious Super 1000 event. Antonsen came out on top in a tightly contested first game before cruising to victory in the second. The Danish shuttler said he was thrilled to win the Indonesia Open title but declared he was 'hungry for more' trophies. 'I'm winning a Super 1000, one of the absolute biggest tournaments of the year,' Antonsen told reporters. 'It's incredible. I'm so grateful for how this place has changed my life many, many times.' In a more closely fought women's singles final, South Korean ace and world No 1 An fought back from one game down to beat China's Wang Zhi Yi in three games. She beat her Chinese rival 13-21, 21-19, 21-15 in 81 minutes. An, the 2024 Olympic gold medallist, said she was 'happy' to win another Indonesia Open title after securing her first in 2021. 'It was a weird game, a difficult game. But fortunately, I can find my own confidence and never gave up,' An told reporters through an interpreter. French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue triumphed against Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. The pair, ranked 10th in the world, beat the sixth-ranked Thai pair 21-16, 21-18 in a 48-minute match, securing France's first Super 1000 title.
Reuters
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Dane Antonsen and South Korea's An win Indonesia Open crown
JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 8 (Reuters) - Danish third seed Anders Antonsen beat Taiwanese Chou Tien-chen 22-20 21-14 to clinch his first Indonesia Open men's singles title on Sunday, while South Korea's An Se-young fought back from a game down to claim her second women's singles crown. The emotional win marked a long-awaited triumph for Antonsen, who had finished as runner-up in 2019 against Tien-chen and again in 2024 against Shi Yuqi, but finally clinched the Super 1000 title on his third appearance in the final. Tien-chen raced to a 15-10 lead in the opening game, but Antonsen clawed his way back to edge it 22-20. The second game was far more one-sided, with Antonsen dominating. Moments after sealing the victory, Antonsen collapsed flat on his back, arms outstretched, as the weight of past near-misses and years of perseverance came pouring out. The Olympic gold medallist An Se-young beat Chinese world number two Wang Zhiyi 13-21 21-19 21-15. An, ranked number one in the world, had won her first Indonesia Open in 2021, while Wang was chasing a first crown at the event. Wang was off to a bright start, powering her way to a 10-17 lead before comfortably closing out the opening game. An was once again backed into a corner as a dominant Wang raced to a 5-0 lead in the second game. But the 23-year-old turned the game on its head to level at 18-18 and eventually forced a decider. An was made to work hard, but the All England Open champion held her nerve to come out on top, winning six of the last 11 points in the final game. In the women's doubles final, China's world number one pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning overcame fourth-ranked Malaysian duo Thinaah Muralitharan and Pearly Tan 23-25 21-12 21-19. It was heartbreak for the hosts in the men's doubles as Indonesian pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Isfahani fought hard but fell short in the second and third games against the fifth-seeded duo Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-Jae of South Korea. The final result was 18-21 21-19 21-12 to the Koreans. French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue took home the mixed doubles title after a 21-16 21-18 victory over Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. "I couldn't believe it," Gicquel said. "We never thought we'd get this far after the first round. It's crazy, it was one of our goals to win a big tournament this year. It's a lot of hard work behind this, so we're grateful." It is France's first Super 1000 title. "We are so happy to make badminton a bit more popular (in France) with this win," Delrue said. "I hope we'll get more media and more players coming to play. I wanted to be the first to win a big tournament so that's done."
