China’s top shuttler, Shi Yuqi, returned to the court at the Thomas Cup on Saturday after going through an illness that disrupted his run. He delivered a strong comeback with a dominant win against Danish home hero Anders Antonsen at the semi-finals.

The Chinese player was suffering from acute gastroenteritis, which is a kind of stomach infection. It hit Yuqi abruptly last weekend, making him weak and unable to compete. However, upon his return, he remained at the top of his game.

"I began taking in some protein and carbs yesterday to gradually adjust. Pretty much back to normal today," he said after his semifinals win. A post on X, by @CGTNSportsScene, highlights this situation and Yuqi’s comment on the match and recovery.

The illness also made Shi Yuqi withdraw from two matches earlier this week, when he was supposed to play first singles in a tie against Canada. But he quickly got back, even though he admits that he didn't fully recover.

"Missing two group matches gave me time to rest, which turned out to be an advantage. What really helped me was staying focused and being determined to give my team a 1-0 lead," said the 30-year-old. 

Yuqi, ranked World No. 1, is one of the most important badminton players in the circuit, remaining a key figure in China’s squad. He holds a strong record with a lot of experience, and he was a former World Champion who was consistently present in the final levels of most of the major events, like the BWF World Tour events.

How Shi Yuqi breezed past Anders Antonsen

In the group stage, China was placed in Group A alongside India, Canada, and Australia. After finishing in first place, China advanced to the knockout stage.

Shi Yuqi was set to play against Denmark’s singles shuttler and World No. 3, Anders Antonsen. The Chinese player dominated the game to end up winning straight games in just 44 minutes with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-5.

Antonsen is one of the top seeds of his Danish squad and a former World No. 2. He has consistently been a regular participant in major tournaments. He is also a multiple-time World Championship medallist and European champion.

Despite his experience, he was still outclassed by the Chinese player in straight games. However, Yuqi praises his opponent's previous match against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, even though Antonsen ended up getting defeated in 16–21, 21–11, 21–18.

"He (Antonsen) played very well against Kunlavut Vitidsarn. I was fully prepared," said Yuqi. 

China is now set to face France with this win, as it advances to the finals of the tournament to compete for the Thomas Cup title in Horsens, Denmark.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Yask Kotak