Teh Stuns Home Favourite in Opening Game
The 2026 VICTOR China Open opened in Changzhou on Tuesday, and world No. 1 Shi Yuqi immediately faced a scare against Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng in the men’s singles first round. Teh, ranked 29th in the world, attacked aggressively from the start and claimed the opening game 21-18, catching the home favourite off guard. Despite Teh’s modest results this season, he pushed the top seed to the brink in front of a partisan Chinese crowd. Teh, who claimed his first two BWF World Tour titles at last year’s Thailand Masters and Korea Masters, has generally struggled to trouble higher-ranked opposition on the bigger stages since then.
However, momentum shifted quickly once the second game began. Shi settled his rhythm and built a 6-2 lead before Teh, who was already carrying a knock, retired due to injury. As a result, Shi advanced to the round of 16 without needing to complete the match, though the walkover offered little rhythm ahead of tougher tests to come. Meanwhile, Teh received courtside treatment before withdrawing, and organisers later confirmed the injury forced an early end to his campaign.
Shi Eyes Home Title After Shaky Start
Although Shi has beaten Teh comfortably before, most recently in straight games at last year’s Singapore Open, this clash proved far from routine. Consequently, questions may linger over the top seed’s form heading into the knockout rounds, even though the result ultimately went his way.
Next, Shi will meet the winner of the match between Japan’s Koki Watanabe and Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul. Either opponent will provide a stern test, and fans on home soil will hope Shi sharpens his game quickly. Furthermore, a deep run at the China Open would boost his bid for the men’s singles title in front of his home fans, especially since he arrives in Changzhou as the defending champion. Ultimately, Tuesday’s win keeps Shi’s title hopes alive, even if the manner of victory raises fresh questions about his readiness for the rounds ahead.
