Lingshui: On the third day of the 2023 China Badminton Super League (CBSL), in the tie between the Ruichang team and the Xiamen team, Ruichang perhaps was trying to lose on purpose as it was sending weird combinations to take on strong pairs from Xiamen.
Instead of playing the women’s singles World No. 5 He Bingjiao in the women’s singles event, she was paired up with the 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s doubles gold medalist Hendra Setiawan. And Hendra Setiawan’s regular men’s doubles partner, Mohammad Ahsan, was partnering with former World No. 1 men’s doubles player Li Junhui in the men’s doubles event.
Highlights of Hendra Setiawan/He Bingjiao vs. Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong At 2023 China Badminton Super League:
Although Setiawan is a men’s doubles legend, he was clearly very uncomfortable playing mixed doubles with He Bingjiao, especially when He has no experience at all playing in mixed doubles. To make the matter worse, they were facing the current World No. 1 mixed doubles pair – Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, and there’s no surprise in the result as Setiawan/He went down 4-11, 8-11, 8-11.
“I didn’t expect to be able to meet Hendra in mixed doubles,” Zheng was laughing when answering the reporters after the match.
“Jiaojiao (He Bingjiao) was so proactive today, I am very surprised,” Huang Yaqiong said jokingly after the match.
“I am a little tense today, and I think I am the worst player in the game,” He Bingjiao seemed to have a lot of fun in this mixed doubles match.
“The last time I played mixed doubles was about 10 years ago, I am happy to be able to play in mixed doubles again, and I have to admit I am not good in mixed doubles,” Setiawan was making fun of himself.
“Our opponents today are World No. 1, they are really good,” laughed Setiawan.
In men’s doubles, Li Junhui and Setiawan’s regular partner, Mohammad Ahsan were taking on the current World No. 5 men’s pair who was also Li Junhui’s former partner, Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi. Of course, the World No. 5 pair showed no mercy to beat Li/Ahsan 11-6, 12-10, 11-9.
The Xiamen team eventually won the tie 5-0 over Ruichang.
