>>Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai have a chance to avenge their defeat in the Singapore Open final a fortnight ago when they take on Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong in the title match of the US$325,000 Asia Championships in Wuhan, China today.
The eighth-seeded Thais defeated China's Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping 21-19, 21-16 to book their berth in the final against the third seeds who beat Reginald Lee Chun Hei and Chau Hoi Wah of Hong Kong 21-10, 21-19 in the other semi-final.
Despite losing all four previous meetings against the Chinese world No.2 pair, 11th-ranked Dechapol and Sapsiree can take heart from their encouraging performance in Singapore -- reaching their first ever Superseries decider -- where they gave Lu and Huang a real test before succumbing in a thrilling three-game encounter.
Dechapol and Sapsiree have been a revelation this season, and claimed their breakthrough victory at the $120,000 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold event in Basel last month.
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, praised both Dechapol and Sapsiree who are bidding to become only the second mixed doubles team from the Kingdom to win the tournament in China after Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam took the title in 2005.
"Bas and Porpor [Dechapol and Sapsiree's nicknames] have improved so much and they are in such hot form at the moment," said Patama.
"This match will be their third meeting against Lu and Huang this year and despite the fact that they have never beaten them, they certainly make it harder and harder for the Chinese to win.
"It will be interesting to see if Bas and Porpor can pull it off this time around."
Top seed and world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying is bidding to win her fourth title in as many tournaments this year as she takes on second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the women's singles final.
Taiwanese Tai has won at the All England Open, the Malaysia Open and the Singapore Open -- all top-tier Superseries events.
Lin Dan faces Chinese compatriot Chen Long in the men's singles final after victories over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Shi Yui, also from China, respectively, in the semi-finals.