South Korea’s An Se-young yesterday finished top of Group A in the women’s singles at badminton’s World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, after defeating world champion Akane Yamaguchi 14-21, 21-5, 21-14, while Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon beat China’s Han Yue to advance.
With their spots in the semi-finals already confirmed, Yamaguchi took the opener against An with some powerful smashes, but the Paris Olympics champion regained momentum in the second.
Yamaguchi pushed hard in the decider, but An’s defense was too good.
Photo: AFP
Ratchanok sailed past her opponent 21-17, 21-10 to finish second in Group B and book a spot in the next stage along with China’s Wang Zhiyi, who won both of her group-stage games.
Pornpawee Chochuwong exited due to an injury on Thursday, leaving the group to be contested by the remaining three players.
In Group B of the men’s singles, China’s Li Shifeng was forced to retire in his match against Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen after he twisted his right foot while leading 21-14, 14-11.
Photo: AFP
Both players were already eliminated from contention after losing their first two games.
In Group A of the women’s doubles, Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee of South Korea defeated Taiwan’s Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu 21-17, 21-19.
The Taiwanese took a 19-16 lead late in the second game, but could not add to it to force a third.
It was the third loss in three group-stage games for the Taiwanese pair.
In Group A of the men’s doubles, Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan were to play last night against Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia, with a win required to advance.
Their hopes also rested on a match to be played after press time.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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