Sabasports Match Preview
German Badminton Open 2026
Kickoff Time: 2026-2-24—3-1(HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
From February 24 to March 1, 2026, the German Badminton Open will officially kick off in Mülheim, Germany. As a Super 300-level event of the Badminton World Federation, the tournament boasts a total prize pool of $250,000, with the champion earning 7,000 world ranking points. This event marks an important start to the European badminton season and serves as a crucial platform for players to warm up and accumulate points ahead of the All England Open Badminton Championships in early March. With the release of the draw, national teams have sent a majority of their main players.
In men’s singles, the French star Christo Popov, the winner of the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals, will be the top seed. Since Popov is the highest-ranked European player among the five events in this tournament, he enjoys home advantage in Germany, attracting great attention from fans and media. From a tactical perspective, Popov’s playing style combines the swift continuity of doubles players with the attacking prowess of singles, creating a highly pressuring style. His core tactic focuses on maintaining a fast pace by employing precise flat drives, quick net plays, and continuous mid-court assaults to disrupt his opponents’ rhythm. He prefers not to engage in prolonged rallies but seeks to gain initiative within the first three shots, even scoring directly. His style is especially effective against players used to slower-paced rallies. According to the draw, if Popov continues to advance, his strongest opponent before the finals will be China’s Lu Guangzu. Regrettably, Lu Guangzu excels in long rallies and backcourt attacks, making it difficult for him to pose a threat to Popov.
In the lower half of the draw, China’s Li Shifeng is the second seed. Last year, Li’s ankle was twisted at a 45-degree angle during the BWF World Tour Finals, ultimately leading to his withdrawal due to injury. After the match, he revealed that his injury was a recurrence of an old one, consistent with his withdrawals from the Japan Badminton Open in July and the Korea Badminton Open in September, primarily due to a lack of systematic training and an excessive physical burden. This tournament marks Li’s return after his injury, though it’s uncertain if he can maintain 100% competitive form, leaving room for other players to vie for a spot in the finals. Personally, I believe that Malaysia’s Hoh Justin and Leong Jun Hao are likely to meet in the semifinals, as both are strong contenders for the finals. Hoh Justin is known for his speed and defensive counterattacks, favoring tussles and tempo control to disrupt opponents’ attacking rhythm. Leong Jun Hao, known for his sharp attacks, excellent stamina, and delicate touch at the net, combines power with speed. According to 2024 Thomas Cup Badminton data, Leong has recorded a fastest smash speed of 482 km/h, which is currently the official record for smash speed. However, Leong’s playing style also has drawbacks, as his pursuit of maximum power can sometimes result in out-of-bounds shots or racket breakage, leading to a higher error rate. If Hoh Justin and Leong Jun Hao face off, I personally believe that Leong Jun Hao’s greater experience in major competitions gives him the edge in handling critical points, increasing his likelihood of advancing to the finals.
If Leong Jun Hao makes it to the finals, he will face Christo Popov in a showdown of power and speed, where the key to victory will lie in whether one can “lock down” their opponent’s speed valve early on. Undoubtedly, as the home player, Christo Popov is the favorite to win the German Badminton Open.