Kantaphon's dream of a final nearing reality

Kantaphon's dream of a final nearing reality

Thai has a tough assignment in semi-finals of Indonesia Open

Kantaphon Wancharoen advanced to the semi-finals of the US$1 million Indonesia Open badminton event in Jakarta yesterday.

The 20-year-old Thai cruised past fellow unseeded player Huang Yuxiang of China 21-10, 21-17 in 39 minutes to book his berth in the last four of the men's singles event at Istora Gelora Bung Karno stadium.

The 18th-ranked Kantaphon will face a much tougher assignment today against fourth seed Chou Tien-chen in his bid for a first final appearance in a BWF World Tour Super 1000 event.

Chou, the Taiwanese world No.3, knocked out home hope, the sixth seeded Jonatan Christie 16-21, 21-18, 21-14 in a gruelling 76-minute quarter-final match.

The other two Thai players in the US$1 million BWF tournament were both knocked out yesterday.

Seventh seed Ratchanok Intanon lost to top seed Tai Tzu-ying 18-21, 21-16, 12-21 in the women's singles quarter-finals.

It was Ratchanok's second straight loss to her Taiwanese rival this year. She was also beaten by Tai at the Malaysia Open in April but won their match-up at the Malaysia Masters in January.

Tai, who is bidding to win her third title of the year after her victories at the Malaysia Open and the Singapore Open, will meet fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi in today's semi-finals after the Japanese star defeated another Thai player Nitchaon Jindapol 21-17, 21-14.

Second seed Chen Yufei of China battled through her match against Zhang Beiwen of the United States 21-14, 17-21, 21-16 to set up a semi-final meeting with Pusarla V Sindhu of India. The Indian fifth seed demolished third seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-14, 21-7.

The world No.3 Chen, 21, is chasing her fourth title this year. She won the All England Open and the Swiss Open in March and the Australian Open last month.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT