Malaysia stun China’s mixed doubles badminton pair at Paris Olympics

The country has long dominated Olympic badminton, winning 47 medals, or more than double the combined tally of Indonesia and South Korea, the second- and third-most successful teams. In 17 group matches in three days in Paris so far, China have now lost once, while in Tokyo, China lasted four days before losing a match.

Chen and Toh won 21-17, 15-21, 16-21 against Huang and Feng, the world No. 2.

“I am happy we overcame them and gave them a good fight,” Toh said. “They played a very good game and they really pushed us to the maximum.”

Huang, the reigning mixed doubles Olympic champion who played in Tokyo with former partner Wang Yilyu, said she was not too upset as they had already qualified for the next stage.

Shortly after, China’s world No. 1 mixed doubles pair, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, made quick work of South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun to win 21-13 21-14.

The day should have started with India’s men’s doubles darlings Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, ranked world No. 3, playing Germany’s Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel, but the match was cancelled after Lamsfuss withdrew from the Games due to a knee injury.