Chen Siqi vankochensq@163.com THE Li-Ning China Masters 2025 heated up Thursday at the Shenzhen Sports Center, with three courts hosting simultaneous matches to decide the coveted quarterfinal spots. A total of 37 matches were played on the day. In the women’s singles, China’s Chen Yufei secured a 2-0 victory over Denmark’s Line Christophersen while China’s Han Yue battled through a tense three-game match to defeat Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min 2-1. “I felt much better than yesterday in terms of my movement on court and my overall physical and technical condition,” said Chen. “My main goal is to avoid aggravating my leg injury.” “The fatigue from the previous two days is starting to build up, and my legs felt quite heavy today,” said Han. “However, I believe persistence is always the solution. Hanging in there for one more shot can help me find my rhythm.” The China Masters, a prestigious BWF World Tour Super 750 event, has drawn over 200 badminton players from 17 countries and regions to the six-day event. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday and the semifinals Saturday. The grand finale will be held Sunday, when the champions will be crowned in matches starting at 1 p.m. The total prize pool for the 2025 edition is US$1.25 million. The tournament is more than just a competition — it’s a celebration of a sport that brings together fans and players from across the globe. Kavindu Shelum, a Sri Lankan student from the Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, made special time in his schedule to attend. He was particularly captivated by the competitive and thrilling women’s singles match between Han Yue and Yeo Jia Min. An avid badminton enthusiast who plays almost daily and once represented his school team in tournaments back home, Shelum was excited to watch high-level play in such a spacious venue. “Watching the games was a very good opportunity,“ said Shelum. “This is the best badminton stadium I have ever seen. With three courts in one arena, we could watch every match perfectly in a clear view,” he said. Built in 1985, the Shenzhen Sports Center closed for renovations in 2020 and has now reopened to the public.The gymnasium led the revival, welcoming fans back in October last year and hosting the 2024 China Masters badminton tournament in November that year. Tip: Metro: Line 6 to Sports Center Station (體育中心站), Exit B. | 