Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi yesterday bowed out at the Malaysia Masters, defeated in the semi-finals a day after an epic quarter-final against the highest-ranked player left in the men’s singles draw.
Lin lost to Weng Hongyang of China 21-13, 21-19 after a draining match against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka a day earlier in which the second game had 59 points.
The 23-year-old left-hander had won his only previous BWF match against his Chinese opponent.
Photo courtesy of Badminton Photo, Yves Lacroix
However, Weng booked a place in today’s final after easing past the Taiwanese battler. He faces India’s H.S. Prannoy, who advanced when Indonesia’s Christian Adinata retired while trailing 19-17 in the first game in their semi.
Lin fought his way into the semi-finals by outdueling Naraoka on Friday.
Lin topped the Japanese 17-21, 30-29, 21-19 in a pulsating two-hour battle, resulting in both players limping off the court.
Photo courtesy of Badminton Photo, Yves Lacroix
Lin’s battle-hardened triumph also meant he eliminated the highest-ranked men’s singles shuttler left in the field, with Naraoka No. 3 in the world.
Naraoka, 21, set the tone for the first game with a blazing start as he found joy with his cross-court smashes and spectacular full-stretch dives to win points.
Lin, who beat home favorite Lee Zii Jia in the second round, was playing catch-up for most periods of the second game, but soldiered on to level proceedings in sudden death.
The third game also turned into a cat-and-mouse affair, but Naraoka wilted toward the end as Lin scraped over the line.
Lin said afterward that he was ready to run from “north or south” against Naraoka in a match that saw both shuttlers needing medical attention.
“I was prepared to play until 31 points if needed,” Lin said. “I knew he was an endurance player, so I was prepared to go the distance.”
“It was my first time playing until 30 points, and I wasn’t sure how long it would last,” he said.
Naraoka, who slumped to the floor after the defeat, said he did everything to win.
“I regret this defeat. I tried to be as patient as possible, but it was not enough,” he said.
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