Wuhan: No.2 seed Lin Dan was on course to defend the men’s singles crown when he needed 49 minutes to defeat No.7 seed – last week’s China Masters champion Wang Zhengming in straight sets 21-14, 21-17 in the semi-finals on Saturday to advance into the final of the Badminton Asia Championships.
Lin Dan took a very quick 9-1 lead in the 1st set and went on to close out the 1st set with 21-14. After Lin Dan got out to another quick 6-1 lead in the second set, Wang tried to battle back, but Lin was able to fend off Wang as he broke his compatriot 21-17 in the second set.
In other men’s singles semi-final, Tian Houwei of China reached the final without breaking a sweat when the No. 1 seed Chen Long granted Tian a walkover.
Indonesians Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan qualified for the men’s doubles final, after the duo were forced to work hard before winning a gripping semi-final in the deciding set against Chinese pair Cai Yun/Lu Kai 21-12, 18-21, and 21-16. Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan will take on No. 1 seeds Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong of South Korea in the final. Lee/Yoo got the better of compatriots Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang by winning 21-18, 21-9 in 41 minutes.
The women’s singles semi-final between Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan was simply breathtaking. Li Xuerui was able to race to the finish line in 74 minutes after she triumphed by the narrowest of margins with 20-22, 24-22, 22-20. Li Xuerui will take on Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the final. Intanon fought back from a set down to trounce Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying, 20-22, 21-9, 21-12 in 58 minutes.
Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia will face Lee Chun Hei Reginald/Chau Hoi Wah of Hong Kong in the mixed doubles final on Sunday, while Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang will clash with Ma Jin/Tang Yuanting in an all Chinese women’s doubles final.
