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Mike Chan

Hongkonger Jason Gunawan will aim for his biggest giant-killing act yet when he takes on Anthony Ginting of Indonesia in the quarter-finals of badminton’s Hong Kong Open on Friday.
A day after knocking out 11th-ranked Kenta Nishimoto of Japan, world No 56 Gunawan claimed another scalp at the BWF World Tour Super 500 event at Hong Kong Coliseum on Thursday.
He dispatched 28th-ranked Christo Popov of France 21-16, 21-9 to reach the last eight of the tournament for the first time and set up a meeting with world No 10 Ginting.
“I hope I can keep my inner fire and do better, because it will only be a more difficult match in the quarter-finals,” the 20-year-old said. “I’ll put aside the [outcome] first, just play the best I can and hope to play better than my last match.

“I hope I can show the best of myself and not let the spectators down.”
Gunawan, who had to emerge from the qualifiers before being denied in the second round in 2023, started from the main draw this year. He began impressively on Wednesday against Nishimoto, and picked up where he left off to destroy Popov.
“I managed to retain my form and I was more patient than my opponents in both of my matches,” he said. “They couldn’t overpower me, I was able to defend and I held on to win points.
“I felt that my coach [Wong Choong Hann] helped me a lot and my game was a lot more mature over the last few months. I’ve been calmer. I won’t panic or rush too much, because the coach told me to stay cool no matter how the point went, and just regroup for the next.”
Gunawan has never previously faced Ginting, who lost to Hongkonger Lee Cheuk-yiu in the 2019 final.
In the women’s singles, his fellow Hongkonger Saloni Mehta fell just short of a stunning victory over Aya Ohori of Japan.
The 22-year-old took the first game 21-9, but the fifth seed bounced back to take the next two 21-16, 21-12 to reach the quarter-finals.
“I couldn’t quite match the rhythm when Ohori upped her speed,” Mehta said. “At times I was only standing there and couldn’t even respond. I was just trying my best out there and didn’t expect to take a game off her.
“I didn’t seize the opportunities in the second game, and my third game was bad. She was consistent throughout and I couldn’t guess which direction she was going to hit.”


Olympic badminton champion Axelsen wins maiden Hong Kong Open title, Han takes women’s crown

Olympians Viktor Axelsen, Loh Kean Yew offer guidance to Hong Kong youth on sports careers

BWF World Tour: Indonesian Ginting is biggest test yet for Jason Gunawan at Hong Kong Open

BWF World Tour: Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen shows Angus Ng no mercy at Hong Kong Open

Badminton World Federation (BWF)

Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong hits a return against Christo Popov on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Jason Gunawan on his way to another upset against Christo Popov. Photo: Xinhua

Viktor Axelsen aims a forehand smash past Angus Ng in the men’s singles round of 32 at the Hong Kong Open. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu dives to stay in a rally with China’s Lu Guangzu. Photo: Elson Li

BWF World Tour: Olympian pair beaten but several locals get past Hong Kong Open qualifiers

Happy Lo is among the local players who will be in action in the main draw of the Hong Kong Open. Photo: AFP

Lui Lok-lok (left) and Tsang Hiu-yan. Photo: Mike Chan

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen aims to keep badminton in spotlight at Hong Kong Open

Viktor Axelsen will return to the badminton court in Hong Kong one month after retaining his Olympic title. Photo: Reuters

Viktor Axelsen is targeting for an improvement on last year when he went out in round one. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Viktor Axelsen will chase a fourth straight BWF World Tour Finals title in Hangzhou this year. Photo: Xinhua

Singapore star Loh Kean Yew playing for new son’s ‘diapers and formula’ at Hong Kong Open

Loh Kean Yew is targeting success at the Hong Kong Open after resetting his goals for the rest of 2024.

Eventual Olympic champion, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, knocked out Loh Kean Yew in Paris. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

Hong Kong badminton player will try to keep his ‘inner fire’ going after his latest upset win takes him into the last eight


Hong Kong badminton player will try to keep his ‘inner fire’ going after his latest upset win takes him into the last eight.
