It’s the semifinals day of YONEX OPEN JAPAN. Japan’s badminton fans made a long line in front of Yoyogi Gymnasium.
Players put their concentration more on the match for playing the final tomorrow. Malaysians advanced to the finals in three events.
In the men’s singles, top seed Lee Chong Wei(VTZFLTD) won the semifinal against No. 3 seed Simon Santoso (AT900P) with a score of 21-7, 21-17 in 32 minutes. Chong Wei played very accurately and his pressure was so big that Simon couldn’t have any lead throughout the match.
In the final, Chong Wei will meet Thailand’s veteran Boonsak Ponsana, who defeated Hu Yun of Hong Kong today. There were no younger players in the semifinals, however, Chong Wei believes that there will be young hopefuls on the world stage soon. He will show his best performance ever in this tournament.
On the women’s side, local Japan’s Eriko Hirose(ARC9FL) won the semifinals against Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, 21-19 21-13, to face Tai Tzu Ying in the final.
It was an all Malaysian semifinal in the men’s doubles between No. 2 seed Koo Kien Keat (VTZFLTD)/Tan Boon Heong (VTZFLTD) and Hoon Thien How (VTZF)(MAS)/Tan Wee Kiong (VTZF). They know each other well, so Kien Keat and Boon Heong looked a little bit difficult to move the opponents around the court, however, they dominated the speed. Kien Keat and Boon Heong put the opponent by moving toward the net to hit the shuttlecock from higher position. They won the match by 21-15, 21-17 in 34 minutes.
Japan’s Shizuka Matsuo (AT900T) and Mami Naito(NS9900) advanced to the final of Superseries tournament for the first time. They will meet Poon Lok Yan (VT80) and Tse Ying Suet (ARC10), who defeatedMiyuki Maeda (VT70) and Satoko Suetsuna (CAB35) in the semifinals.
No. 1 seed in the Mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon(ARC10) and Goh Liu Ying (ARC7) will also play their first final of Superseries. They will face Indonesia’sMuhammad Rijal (ARC10) and Liliyana Natsir(NR700RP).
Please don’t miss the finals tomorrow!
Tournament Results [Day 4]
Men’s Singles
[1]Lee Chong Wei (VTZFLTD)(MAS) def. [3]Simon Santoso (AT900P)(INA) 21-7 21-17
Women’s Singles
Eriko Hirose (ARC9FL)(JPN) def. [6]Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA) 21-19 21-13
Men’s Doubles
[2]Koo Kien Keat (VTZFLTD)(MAS)/Tan Boon Heong (VTZFLTD)(MAS) def. [8]Hoon Thien How (VTZF)(MAS)/Tan Wee Kiong (VTZF)(MAS) 21-15 21-17
Kim Ki Jung (KOR)/Kim Sa Rang (KOR) def. Hiroyuki Saeki (VT80)(JPN)/Ryota Taohata (VT80)(JPN) 21-9 21-8
Women’s Doubles
[4]Shizuka Matsuo (AT900T)(JPN)/Mami Naito (NS9900)(JPN) def. Choi Hye In (KOR)/Kim So Young (KOR) 21-14 21-17
Poon Lok Yan (VT80)(HKG)/Tse Ying Suet (ARC10)(HKG) def. [3]Miyuki Maeda (VT70)(JPN)/Satoko Suetsuna(CAB35)(JPN) 16-21 21-8 21-18
Mixed Doubles
[1]Chan Peng Soon (ARC10)(MAS)/Goh Liu Ying (ARC7)(MAS) def. Takeshi Kamura (VTZF)(JPN)/Koharu Yonemoto (NS8000)(JPN) 21-19 21-13
[5]Muhammad Rijal (ARC10)(INA)/Liliyana Natsir (NR700RP)(INA) def. [2]Shintaro Ikeda (JPN)/Reiko Shiota(VT80)(JPN) 21-9 21-11