The 2026 Xi’an Lin Dan Cup Badminton Open concluded on Sept. 27 after a three-day tournament that drew players to the historical capital. The event combined high-level competition with local tourism initiatives, utilizing ticket stubs to drive the regional sports and culture economy.
Local Officials and Badminton Figures Attend Medal Ceremony
The tournament wrapped up with a medal ceremony starting at 18:00 local time. The evening opened with a dance performance before local officials and badminton figures handed out trophies.
Attendees included Zhang Qidong, Party Secretary and Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau; tournament founder and badminton double Grand Slam winner Lin Dan; Li Changjun, Party Member and Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau; and He Dong, Party Committee Member and Deputy General Manager of Shaanxi Tourism Group. Senior executives from the Shaanxi Sports Industry Group and Lin Dan Sports also attended the presentation.
Tournament Winners Across Professional and Youth Brackets
Competition over the three days spanned multiple divisions, sorting players by age, skill level, and format. Wang Zhengxing won the men’s singles title.
Ten youth singles titles were distributed across groups A, B, C, D, and E, with winners including Xiu Heming, Zhang Nanyi, Liu Haokun, Shen Guanyu, Sun Qihao, Sun Heyao, Wang Jingxi, Guo Jiaqi, Zhang Yirui, and Chen Xiaohan.
Professional Stars and Youth Compete in Exhibition Match
A 5V5 wheel exhibition match served as the event’s final athletic showcase, pairing ten players into two competing squads that mixed professional stars with rising youth competitors. Lin Dan oversaw the coin toss and court selection.
Before the exhibition got underway, a lucky draw gave spectators a chance to win cultural shirts signed by Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai, Cai Yun, and Fu Haifeng, collectively known as “Guoyu F4.” At the close of the match, Jin Ting invited a young spectator onto the court for a brief, lighthearted rally.
Economic Integration Through Sports Tourism
Gao Qinyin, Party Secretary and Executive Director of the Shaanxi Sports Industry Group, noted during the closing remarks that this marked the second time the Lin Dan Cup has been hosted in Xi’an. He pointed to upgraded venue services and broader participation figures compared to the inaugural tournament.
Organizers utilized a “ticket stub economy” strategy, encouraging spectators to travel across Xi’an for tourism by linking event entry to regional cultural attractions under the banner of “traveling while following sports.” The Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau and Shaanxi Tourism Group hosted the event, with operations managed by Shaanxi Olympic Sports Culture Development.
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