China's Badminton Team Unveils Roster for 2025 Sudirman Cup, Eyes 14th Title

China's badminton team has announced its 20-player roster for the 2025 Sudirman Cup, aiming for a record-extending 14th title and a fourth consecutive championship win. The tournament, a premier mixed team badminton event, will take place in Xiamen, Fujian Province, from April 27 to May 4. The Sudirman Cup, along with the Thomas and Uber Cups, forms a cornerstone of international team badminton competitions. China has a dominant history in the Sudirman Cup, having won the trophy 13 times since its inception in 1989.

The singles roster will be led by Shi Yuqi and Wang Zhiyi, the top-ranked players in men's and women's singles, respectively. Shi has shown a resurgence, including victories at the Malaysia Open and the All England Open, solidifying his position as world No.1. Olympic champion Chen Yufei will also be part of the women's team alongside Wang. Notably absent from the singles lineup are Lu Guangzu and He Bingjiao, with spots going to rising stars Weng Hongyang and Han Yue, signaling a generational shift.

The doubles arena will see Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang leading the men's charge, while Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan will anchor the women's doubles. Tan Ning and Liu Shengshu, the current world No.1 women's pair, will also feature prominently. The mixed doubles lineup includes Jiang Zhenbang, Wei Yaxin, Feng Yanzhe, Huang Dongping, and Guo Xinwa. A surprise omission is the men's doubles pair Ren Xiangyu and He Jiting.

The Chinese Badminton Association held a meeting where Vice President Xia Xuanze emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and integrity throughout 2025's competitions. Xia reiterated the association's zero-tolerance stance on gambling and match-fixing. Zhang Jun, president of the Chinese Badminton Association, also called for stricter management and education within national teams, urging efforts to curb the negative influence of toxic fan culture.

In the group stage of the 2025 Sudirman Cup, China will face Thailand, Algeria, and China's Hong Kong. While China is a strong contender, the road ahead will be challenging. South Korea, with women's world No.1 An Se-young, poses a significant threat, as do Denmark, Indonesia, and Japan.