Source: Action Images /ANDREW BOYERS
[Saba Sports News] On April 28, the 2025 National Badminton Championships concluded, with Ma Shang, representing Fujian, clinching both mixed doubles and men’s doubles titles, making him the biggest winner of this event. Ma Shang proved his worth through his outstanding performance. Since the main players of China’s national team had to prepare for the Sudirman Cup Mixed Team Championship, this tournament still featured several former world champions, including Zhou Haodong, Liu Yu Chen, Tan Qiang, Han Chengkai, and others. Ultimately, Ma Shang, alongside his mixed doubles partner Yang Jiayi and men’s doubles partner Ou Xuanyi, emerged victorious after overcoming various strong opponents, earning double crowns and becoming the brightest star of this championship. Fans familiar with China’s badminton team structure know Ma Shang well; in 2023, he and Zhu Yijun consecutively won the Asian Youth Badminton Championships and World Youth Badminton Championships in men’s doubles, marking him as one of the most promising players to take over the men’s doubles flag for China’s national team. However, perhaps the coaching staff favored Sun Wenjun, leading to the breakup of this World Youth Championship-winning duo, pairing Zhu Yijun with Sun Wenjun instead, while Ma Shang was paired with Zhu Haiyuan, who hadn’t even participated in the Asian or World Youth Championships. Despite these challenges, Ma Shang didn’t give up, proving himself by winning two championships back-to-back at the Fujian team, and showing up the coaches who had doubted him.