China’s Hu Zhe’an claims his first BWF World Tour title at the Macao Open 2026, defeating Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen in three games
Hu Zhe’an wins first BWF World Tour title at Macao Open 2026
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Nineteen-year-old Chinese shuttler Hu Zhe’an claimed his first HSBC BWF World Tour title at the Sands China Ltd. Macao Open 2026 on Sunday, rallying from a game down to defeat Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, a former world bronze medallist, 11-21, 21-10, 21-13 in the men’s singles final.
The 2024 World Junior champion had reached two World Tour semifinals earlier this year but had yet to break through for a title. Sunday’s win was his best result since a Super 100 victory at the Baoji China Masters in 2024, and denied Wangcharoen what would have been his first title in over nine years.
In the women’s singles, South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun took her first title of the season with a commanding 21-16, 21-13 win over compatriot Park Ga-eun. The world No.18 needed just 39 minutes to see off the world No.61 in an all-Korean final.
[See more: Macau Open Badminton 2026 opens with 3 million-pataca prize pool, the richest on the Super 300 tour]
China finished the tournament with three titles. World No.2 pair Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin, reuniting after three months apart, stormed past Hong Kong’s Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau 21-14, 21-14 to win the mixed doubles. Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan claimed the women’s doubles crown with a comfortable 21-18, 21-10 win over compatriots Chen Fanshutian and Liu Jiayue.
The men’s doubles title went to South Korean qualifiers Jin Yong and Lee Jong Min, who came from a set down to beat Indonesian young guns Ali Faathir Rayhan and Devin Artha Wahyudi 18-21, 21-19, 21-10.
The total prize money for the tournament was US$370,000.
