Japan dominated the 2022 All England stage. The Land of the Rising Sun won three titles at the BWF Super 1000 level tournament. In the final match at the Utlita Arena Birmingham, Sunday (20/3/2022), Japan became the best in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles sectors.
The other two sectors, namely men’s doubles and men’s singles, belong to Indonesia and Denmark. Akane Yamaguchi presented Japan’s first title in the 2022 edition of the oldest tournament. The second seed conquered the best South Korean women’s singles, An Seyoung.
Shown tireless and full of fighting power, Akane won with an identical score of 21-15, 21-15 over her opponent who is the fourth seed. Japan’s second title in the 2022 All England is presented by Nami Matsyuyama/Chiharu Shida, who is placed as the seventh seed. They won two games 21-13, 21-9 over the Chinese pair, Zhang Shu Xian/Zheng Yu.
Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino complete the Japanese domination. The fourth seed in the mixed doubles sector won 21-19, 21-19 over the third seeded Chinese pair, Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping.
From the men’s doubles sector, Indonesia perpetuates its dominance. Muhamad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana made a sweet debut. Even though this was their first experience at All England, they appeared full of confidence when they met their seniors, Muhammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan.
In a 37-minute match, this unseeded pair, who in the semifinals who won over the world number one men’s doubles won 21-19, 21-13 over The Daddies. The Daddies, nicknamed for Ahsan/Hendra, was placed as the second seed.
From the men’s singles sector, Denmark became the champion through the action of Viktor Axelsen. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist won 21-10, 21-15 over the young Indian player, Lakshya Sen.
China is still short of titles in the last three editions of the All England 2022. This has not yet become a stage for China, which is the world’s badminton giant. This Bamboo Curtain country has to bite its fingers because it doesn’t have a title even though it places two representatives in the top party.
Women’s doubles Zhang Shu Xian/Zheng Yu and mixed doubles Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping were helpless against the Japanese pair. Thus, in the last three editions of the All England, China has never won.
Previously, they almost never went home empty-handed, and even won the title in 2009. At that time, Lin Dan won the men’s singles, Wang Yihan won the women’s singles, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng won men’s doubles, Zhang Yawen/Zhao Tingting for women’s doubles and He Hanbin/Yu Yang in mixed doubles.
However, this is not China’s worst performance on the All England stage. Since first winning the All England trophy in 1982 through the women’s singles Zhang Ailing and the women’s doubles Lin Ying/Wu Dixi, China has been without a title in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
