Asian Championships: Zhi Yi Stuns An Se Young

Asian Championships: Zhi Yi Stuns An Se Young

Wang Zhi Yi scored her first win over An Se Young in four matches to earn a title shot at the Badminton Asia Championships 2022 against favourite Akane Yamaguchi.

The world No.16 Chinese recovered from the loss of the opening game to make it past the world No.4, 10-21 21-12 21-16.

Wang will take on world champion Akane Yamaguchi, who won her third three-game battle in three days, as she fought past Pusarla V Sindhu 13-21 21-19 21-16.

Wang Zhi Yi celebrates during her victory over An Se Young.

In men’s singles, Jonatan Christie kept alive his hopes of becoming the first Indonesian in 15 years to win the title as he beat compatriot Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-9 18-21 21-16. The fourth seed will take on Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, who overcame Chinese rising star Weng Hong Yang 21-11 21-19.

Other Highlights

♦ Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi upset higher-ranked teammates Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota 16-21 21-15 21-19 as they stayed in the hunt for their career’s biggest title.

♦ In men’s doubles, Aaron Chia/ Soh Wooi Yik shot into the final past their compatriots Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin 21-13 21-15.

♦ The mixed doubles final will be an all-Chinese affair, featuring Tokyo 2020 finalists Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping against Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong. Olympic champions Wang/Huang beat All England champions Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino 21-12 24-22.

FULL RESULTS

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