Yamaguchi on course for fourth badminton world crown

Akane Yamaguchi of Japan is on track for her fourth badminton world championship title, advancing to the semi-final after defeating Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-17. The defending champion showcased her exceptional skills, as Chochuwong had already secured a walkover in the quarter-final due to Okuhara's withdrawal from the tournament.

Yamaguchi, currently ranked second in the world, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to compete in her fourth world championship final, while avoiding dwelling on her past victories. She will face the winner of the second semi-final bout between South Korea's An Se-young and China's Wang Zhiyi.

In the men's singles event, France's Alex Lanier secured a place in the men's final with a hard-fought victory over Canadian Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14. Despite falling behind early, Lanier's determination and skill propelled him to victory, with his seventh-seeded opponent struggling with fatigue. Lanier, who became the first Frenchman to win a badminton world championship medal, acknowledged his fatigue but remained focused on his next challenge.

He will compete against the winner of the other final-four matchup between Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen and Japan's Kodai Naraoka. Earlier, France's mixed doubles pair, Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, further cemented their country's prominence in the sport by defeating the Chinese duo of Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in the semi-final.