Chiu Pin-chian Clinches First Super 300 Title in Korea

Taiwanese badminton player Chiu Pin-chian captured her first Super 300 title on March 18, 2023, by defeating Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam in straight sets at the Korea Masters held in Iksan, South Korea. The 26-year-old, currently ranked 20th in the world, secured the victory with scores of 21-16, 21-15 in just 39 minutes at the Wonkwang University Cultural and Sports Center.

Chiu’s triumph marks a significant milestone in her career, as it is not only her first title of the year, but also her first final appearance since the Ruiching China Masters Super 100 tournament in March 2022. She faced challenges in her recent outings, having been eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the Denmark Open and the Arctic Open last month.

In her path to the final in Korea, Chiu showcased her determination by rallying from behind to defeat Indonesia’s Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi in the semi-finals. After dropping the first game 19-21, she turned the match around, winning the next two games 21-19 and 21-8, including a decisive nine-point run in the final game.

With the retirement of former world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying, Chiu has ascended to the position of Taiwan’s highest-ranked female shuttler. Tai, who had not competed since September 2022, officially announced her retirement on March 17, 2023. Her remarkable career included a record 214 weeks at the top of the women’s singles rankings from December 2016 to September 2022.

Chiu currently holds a narrow lead over compatriot Lin Hsiang-ting in the world rankings, while another Taiwanese player, Sung Shuo-yun, is ranked 30th. Looking ahead, Chiu is set to begin her campaign at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan, where she is seeded seventh. Lin is seeded eighth in the same tournament.

In men’s singles, Chou Tien-chen is seeded second, with Lin Chun-yi positioned fifth. In the men’s doubles category, Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan are seeded fifth, while Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Olympic gold medalist Wang Chi-lin are seeded sixth. The women’s doubles team of Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu is seeded fifth.

Chiu’s recent victory not only boosts her confidence but also highlights her potential to lead Taiwanese badminton in the absence of Tai Tzu-ying. As she prepares for her next competition, the badminton community eagerly anticipates her continued success on the international stage.