Ng Ka-long Advances to Round of 16 at World Badminton Championships
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong badminton ace Ng Ka-long produced a thrilling comeback victory at the 2026 World Badminton Championships in India, rallying past Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in a grueling three-game match lasting 79 minutes. After dropping the opening game, Ng demonstrated resilience and tactical brilliance to secure a 2-1 win (17:21, 21:16, 21:18) and advance to the round of 16. The victory sets up an intriguing encounter with French rising star Alex Lanier, the ninth seed, as Ng continues his pursuit of a deep run at the championship.
Key Points
- World No. 30 Ng Ka-long defeated Japan's Kenta Nishimoto (world No. 24) 2-1 in the men's singles 32nd round
- Match duration was 79 minutes, with Ng overcoming a 0-1 deficit to win (17:21, 21:16, 21:18)
- This was their 12th meeting, with Ng holding a 3-8 head-to-head record against the Japanese player
- In the decisive third game, Ng recovered from 16-18 down by winning five consecutive points
- Next opponent is France's Alex Lanier (9th seed, world No. 10) in the round of 16
Why It Matters
Ng's victory underscores Hong Kong badminton's growing competitiveness on the international stage, as he prepares to face a higher-ranked opponent in Lanier. The result provides a confidence boost for Hong Kong's badminton program ahead of upcoming major tournaments and Olympic qualification cycles .
Ng's victory underscores Hong Kong badminton's growing competitiveness on the international stage, as he prepares to face a higher-ranked opponent in Lanier. The result provides a confidence boost for Hong Kong's badminton program ahead of upcoming major tournaments and Olympic qualification cycles .