Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying yesterday defeated Thailand’s Pornpicha Choeikeewong in the women’s singles semi-finals at the Taipei Badminton Open to book a place in today’s final, as did Su Li-yang in the men’s singles.
Tai defeated Choeikeewong 21-12, 21-16 at the Tianmu Gymnasium to reach her sixth championship match in Taipei, of which she has previously won four.
She also faced a Thai player in the quarter-finals, Supanida Katethong, and Tai said after her game yesterday that she was not familiar with their playing styles.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
Asked about her own performance, she said: “Nothing special.”
Tai faces Zhang Beiwen of the US today. They have played 10 matches against each other, with Tai winning eight. The previous time they met was at the 2019 Japan Open, when Tai won in the first round.
Although the two finalists have not squared off for a few years, they should be familiar with how each other plays, Tai said, praising her opponent’s running game and saves.
Photo: CNA
“I must retain my focus in the final,” she said.
Zhang advanced by beating Thai teenager Pitchamon Opatniputh 21-18, 21-15.
Opatniputh, who is only 16, eliminated three Taiwanese players, Chen Su-yu, Huang Yu-hsun and Sung Shuo-yun to reach her first semi-final at a Super 300 tournament.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
In the men’s singles on Court 1, Taiwan’s Su defeated Angus Ng of Hong Kong 21-11, 21-15 to book a place in the final against Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia.
Despite having to play three game points, Su led comfortably throughout game 1. He fell behind for the only time in the match early in game 2, trailing 2-0, but from there rattled off six consecutive points and took the match in 35 minutes.
In the mixed doubles, Taiwanese duo Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Lin Xiao-min are to play Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia in the final.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
In the women’s doubles, Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi of Indonesia are to play South Korea’s Lee Yu-lim and Shin Seung-chan, while in the men’s doubles it is Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee of Malaysia against Lu Ching-yao and Yang Po-han of Taiwan.
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