ODENSE: Former world No.1 Wang Yihan ended the impressive run of world champion Ratchanok Intanon with an impressive come from behind 21-23, 21-19, 21-17 win in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The 2011 world champion has been going through a patchy year but she saved her best for Ratchanok – a player she has never lost to in seven previous meetings.
It was a close first game but Ratchanok, who is competing in her first tournament after a lengthy injury layoff did enough to steal ahead.
The 25-year-old Yihan, who won the Danish meet in 2010 then stepped up a notch and was always in the driving seat in securing her seventh win over Ratchanok and a place in the final.
She will face South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun, who defeated China’s Wang Shixian 21-19, 21-14, for the title.
“Ratchanok has had an incredible year and winning the world title has given her a lot of confidence,” said Yihan.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match but I have never lost to her and I never intended to do so this time.
“As for the final, Ji-hyun has been impressive too and to reach the final means she has to be good so I’ll need to prepare well.
“Ultimately I really want to win in the final because I love coming to Denmark and the fans here are great as well.”
In women’s doubles, unseeded Chinese pair Bao Yixin-Tang Jinhua came up big to beat third seeds Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan 19-21, 21-15, 21-15.
There were double disappointment for the Japanese as Reika Kakiiwa-Miyuki Maeda fell 17-21, 21-7, 8-21 to home favourites Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl.
Pedersen however suffered the agony of losing mixed doubles, as together with partner – Joachim Fischer Nielsen, lost to top seeds Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei 18-21, 15-21.
Defending champions and second seeds Xu Chen-Ma Jin were however given a beating by reigning world champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia, losing 11-21, 18-21.