Asian Games: Eain Yow, Sivasangari power into semis, Azman sisters exit

NAGOYA: Defending champions Ng Eain Yow and S Sivasangari advanced to the semi-finals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, while Aira Azman's journey ended in the quarter-finals. Eain Yow, ranked 18th in the world, overcame Hong Kong's Lau Tsz Kuan in a grueling 36-minute quarter-final match. The 28-year-old Indian, who is the defending champion, expressed his determination to defend his title and prepare for his next opponent, Pakistan's Noor Zaman, the world No. 29.

Sivasangari, ranked fifth globally, defeated Hong Kong's Ho Tze Lok in a 29-minute quarter-final, marking an important match to regain her rhythm after her round-of-16 opponent. The other semi-final will see Pakistan's Muhammad Irfan face India's Abhay Singh. Sivasangari will face Chan Sin Yuk, ranked 21st globally, in the semi-finals.

The other semi-final will see India's Anahat Singh compete against Japan's Satomi Watanabe. The mixed doubles team of Aira Azman and her sister Aifa Azman, along with her partner Syafiq Kamal, lost in the quarter-finals to Hong Kong's Lee Ka Yi-Tang Ming Hong. The Azman sisters' mixed doubles teammates, Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Rachel Arnold, advanced to the semi-finals after defeating South Korea's Oh Seojin-Heo Mingyeong. They will face Hong Kong's Toby Tse Yee Lam-Lai Cheuk Nam for a spot in the final tomorrow.