Zhang Bokaumiwa Stuns Chen Yi 3-2 in Yokohama Thriller

event · 2026-08-06

Zhang Bokaumiwa Stuns Chen Yi 3-2 in Yokohama Thriller

Zhang Bokaumiwa staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Chen Yi 3-2 in the women’s singles round of 16 at the 2026 WTT Yokohama Championships. The match ended with a dramatic scoreline of 13-11, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 5-11 in favor of the top seed .

The turning point came in the third game when Zhang Bokaumiwa, known for her speed and placement, particularly with her strong backhand, began to dominate the rallies. Chen Yi, who had taken the first two games 13-11 and 11-9, struggled to maintain her early momentum .

A small incident occurred in the first game when Chen Yi, while attempting to make a save, nearly fell and had to support herself with her hand on her waist. This raised concerns among fans, given that she had already taken a medical timeout in her previous match .

The match took a contentious turn in the fourth game. Chen Yi was issued two yellow cards by the referee, resulting in a penalty point. She protested the decision but to no avail . At 9-8, Chen Yi signaled for a medical timeout due to a shoulder and neck injury, but her request was denied as she had already used her allotted timeout. Despite taking a 10-9 lead, she ultimately lost the game 12-10, forcing a decisive fifth game .

In the final game, Zhang Bokaumiwa’s relentless pace proved too much for Chen Yi, who succumbed to a 5-11 defeat .

The match sparked debate among fans about the referee’s decisions and the handling of injury timeouts. Chen Yi’s early exit was a disappointing end to her campaign, leaving many to wonder if the outcome would have been different under different circumstances.

Upcoming Matches on August 7th