Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet moved into gold medal contention at the Asian Games 2018 yesterday after they overcame Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping in a three-game thriller.
The Hong Kong Mixed Doubles duo (featured image) prevailed by the tightest of margins against the World Championships runners-up, 22-20 19-21 23-21, and have a shot at history when they take on reigning World champions Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (China). No Hong Kong pair has won a Mixed Doubles gold at the Asian Games.
Meanwhile, top seeds Zheng/Huang broke the hearts of the home crowd as they shut out Indonesian superstars and Olympic champions Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir 21-13 21-18.
Indonesia were also stopped in the Women’s Doubles semi-finals, with fourth seeds Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu running out of steam against second seeds Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (Japan), 21-15 21-17. The Olympic champions take on China’s Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, who brushed aside top seeds Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (Japan) 21-17 21-8.
But Indonesia had plenty going their way. Anthony Ginting continued his giant-killing act: a day after shocking World champion Kento Momota, the Indonesian felled Olympic champion Chen Long (China), 21-19 21-11, to make the semi-finals against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen. Another Indonesian, Jonatan Christie, also made the semi-finals in the top half, getting past Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki 21-11 21-18. Christie faces Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.
In Women’s Singles, Pusarla V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal gave their compatriots hope for an all-India final. Pusarla outplayed Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11 16-21 21-14 and will do battle against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi – a 21-19 21-11 winner over China’s Chen Yufei. Nehwal eased past Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-18 21-16 and will hope to break her disappointing run of results against Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who had it easy against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, 21-15 21-10.
Indonesia also had a great day in Men’s Doubles, with top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto making the semi-finals in opposite halves.
BWF Newsletter
