The 2024 season of badminton is nearing its end, and Lin Dan's King's Cup has started in mainland China. The tournament is divided into two stages: the main event and exhibition matches. Eight male singles players were invited for the main event, including this year's outstanding performer Anders Antonsen and former World Championship winner Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
On the first day of the King's Cup on December 28, 2024, all four semi-finalists were determined. Three Chinese male singles players participated, including Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long, and China's national team's twin stars, Hu Zhe'an and Wang Zijun. After a day of competition, only Wang Zijun remains from the national team, continuing his solo journey towards the championship.
In the first round of the King's Cup, Thailand's former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, a post-2000 player, was defeated 0:2 by Danish player Anders Antonsen, missing out on the semi-finals. Antonsen, after eliminating the Thai player, became the biggest favorite to win the King's Cup. He is also the highest-ranked player among the semi-finalists.
China's post-2000 player Wang Zijun easily defeated former world champion Loh Kean Yew 2:0 in the first round of the King's Cup. The Singaporean player had previously won a world championship and had beaten current top-ranked and Grand Slam winner Viktor Axelsen multiple times. Wang Zijun's performance was impressive, successfully advancing to the semi-finals. However, another Chinese player, Hu Zhe'an, was not as fortunate. After taking a 1:0 lead, he suffered a big reversal and lost to France's Brice Leverdez, missing out on the semi-finals. Leverdez has been one of the fastest-improving players in international badminton events this year.
Hong Kong's veteran Ng Ka Long also lost to Indian player Lakshya Sen, making him unable to reach the semi-finals. In the upcoming semi-final matchups, China's Wang Zijun will face India's post-2000 rising star Lakshya Sen, while Danish player Anders Antonsen will challenge French newcomer Brice Leverdez. If Antonsen can advance to the final of the King's Cup, he has a high chance of winning the championship.