It was crunch time at the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Saturday, when the world’s best players battled it out for a spot in the finals in each of the five categories being contested.
First on court was Saina Nehwal of India, who had dominated her pool, making it to the semis without a loss.
The only obstacle between her and the finals was Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, and after the first game went to Nehwal, it seemed she would progress.
Tai had other ideas, though, and produced some amazing shots to outplay Nehwal 11-21, 21-13, 21-9 and take the spot in Sunday’s final. A disappointed Nehwal said: “I think I was really tired in the second [game], I started well, but again when the long rallies started happening I felt a little tired.
Tze Ying said: “I started to find my rhythm in the second. I played her when I was starting out in badminton; I have learnt a lot from players like her.
“It is simply intuitive for me to make those shots and I seem to be able to pull them off at the right moment.”
Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea then defeated Akane Yamaguchi, taking the encounter 21-13, 21-13. to book an appointment with Tai for the championship.
In the mixed doubles, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunleiwere too strong for England’s Chris Adcock/Gabrielle Adcock, winning 21-9, 21-12.
Nan and Yunlei will now face their countrymen Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin, after they ended the run of defending champions Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen, 21-13, 21-12.
In the women’s doubles, Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi won a marathon match against China’s Luo Ying and Luo Yu 21-14, 13-21, 21-14.
Tian Qing and Yunlei then defeated Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na of South Korea, 21-9, 21-9.
China’s world champion and tournament top seed Chen Long survived a scare against India’s Kidambi Srikanth on his way to the men’s final, winning 21-18, 21-9.
Chen will meet Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark, who defeasted Jan O Jorgensen in the other semi-final, 21-11, 21-17.
China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei will meet the Korean pair of Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seongin the men’s doubles final.
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