Top-ranked An, holder Yamaguchi reach worlds semi-finals
NEW DELHI: South Korea’s world number one An Se-young and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi registered strong wins to reach the semi-finals of the badminton world championships on Friday.
South Korea's top-ranked player An Se-young and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi advanced to the semi-finals of the badminton world championships on Friday. Olympic champion An defeated China's fifth-ranked Han Yue 21-19, 21-12 at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, aiming for her second world title. An will face world number three Wang Zhiyi, who beat Denmark's Line Christophersen 21-10, 21-7 in the quarter-final.
In women's singles, Japan's Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion, outplayed Canada's Michelle Li 21-17, 21-10 in 28 minutes. In the men's singles, Canada's Victor Lai struggled against Denmark's Rasmus Gemke, losing 21-19, 21-18. However, Lai bounced back by defeating unseeded Alex Lanier of France 21-19, 16-21, 16-21. Chinese player Kunlavut Vitidsarn lost to France's Alex Lanier 21-19, 16-21, 16-21, while Japan's Kodai Naraoka upset Denmark's Anders Antonsen 21-19, 21-15 to reach the final four.
Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen secured a second medal after defeating Indonesia's Alwi Farhan 21-15, 21-15. Chou, the second oldest medalist at 36, will face Naraoka in the semi-final. Lai and Lanier will compete for the other semi-final spot.
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