Defending champions China ensured they were in the running to retain the gold medal when they defeated Thailand 3-0 in the semi-finals of the Asian Games badminton women’s team event at the Istora Senayan today.
In tomorrow’s final, China will take on high-riding Japan, which stopped Indonesia’s run with a 3-1 win in the other semi-final game today.
For China, winners in Incheon four years ago, today’s victory not only gave them hope of hanging on to the gold but also exacted revenge for their shocking loss to Thailand in the Uber Cup semi-finals in May this year.
Chen Yufei (main pix), ranked fifth in the world, came out fighting and not surprisingly won the opener 21-14. The fourth seeded Ratchanok, a former world champ, refused to give in and drew level with a 21-17 win.
Chen pushed hard and led 11-7 at the break before several mistakes from Ratchanok helped the Chinese player get away and claim victory and the first point.
It was a close encounter in the doubles between Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan and Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai. The Chinese pair led with a 22-20 win but the Thais charged back to even the score at 21-16. Despite their best efforts, the Thais could not match the pace of their opponents and went down 21-14 in the decider.
He Bingjiao, ranked seventh, brought the curtains down on the match and secure the winning point after overcoming a fighting Nitchaon Jindapol 21-17, 21-12.
Uber Cup champions Japan, meanwhile overcame an early setback when Akane Yamaguchi, ranked No. 2, was upstaged by 19-year-old world No 22 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the opening singles tie. Gregoria, last year’s world junior champion, has been on a roll here and won all her matches thus far and it was no surprise gave Indonesia a stunning start today.
Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota, currently the top ranked women’s duo, lived up to expectations and hauled Japan back into contention. They swept past fourth ranked Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu 21-13, 21-12 to put the score at 1-1.
After winning the first point, the Indonesians were clearly fired up and threw everything they had into the game, but the Japanese absorbed it all to deny the hosts.
“We tried our best and had great support from the fans which helped us a lot today. Our rivals defended well,” said a disappointed Apriyani later.
It was a crucial third tie between eighth seeded Nozomi Okuhara and Fitriani, both former world junior champs. The 19-year-old Fitriani raised her game and caught Nozomi with a superb performance in the first game.
Nozomi stormed back with a vengeance and led 11-2 before going to win 21-4. Nozomi kept the pressure up to win 21-10 and bag a second point for Japan.
Japan, bronze medallists in Asian Games 2014, claimed the winning point through their world No. 2 doubles pair of Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi. They got the better of Delia Destiara Haris-Rizki Amelia Pradipta, winning 21-13, 21-10.
The men’s semi-finals will take place later this evening.
WOMEN’S TEAM SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Japan bt Indonesia 3-1
Akane Yamaguchi lost to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 16-21, 21-9, 18-21
Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota bt Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu 21-13, 21-12
Nozomi Okuhara bt Fitriani 19-21, 21-4, 21-10
Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi bt Delia Destiara Haris-Rizki Amelia Pradipta 21-13, 21-10
China bt Thailand 3-0
Chen Yufei bt Ratchanok Inthanon 21-14, 17-21, 21-17
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan bt Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai 22-20, 16-21, 21-14
He Bingjiao bt Nitchaon Jindapol 21-17, 21-12
MEN’S TEAM SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS
(Evening Session)
China vs Chinese Taipei
Japan vs Indonesia
