# Malaysians score impressive win over Chinese opponents.
# Top seed Jorgensen dumped by Houwei in men’s singles semis
# World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying makes the women’s singles final
By Rizal Abdullah
World No 1 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong stormed into the men’s doubles final in the season-ending Dubai Superseries Finals with an impressive 21-18, 21-16 win over China’s Chai Biao-Hong Wei in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The Malaysians seeded second in Dubai, will face top seeds Takesihi Kamura-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan in the final. The Japanese ended Denmark’s hopes Mads Conrad Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding with a straight sets 21-17, 21-19 win.
The Danish pair had gone three matches unbeaten in the group stages and were Europe’s hopes in the men’s doubles. The Japanese, however, brought off their best against their opponents which left the Danes with no answers.
The men’s singles final saw top seed Jan O Jorgensen fall by the wayside as China’s rising star Tian Houwei dumped his opponent with a 21-17, 19-21, 21-13 win in a match which lasted 62 minutes.
Houwei, however, faces another Dane in the final – Rio Olympics bronze medal winner Viktor Axelsen who turned the tables on South Korea’s Son Wan-ho with a 21-17, 21-19 win. In the group stage the Korean has beaten the Dane 21-19, 14-21, 21-18. This is Axelsen’s second successive final in Dubai.
Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying will face Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun in the women’s singles final. The 2014 champion and 2013 runners-up will face the e Korean with revenge on her mind for a her 21-15, 21-17 in a group match.
Ji-hyun, however, has shown fine form in Dubai and denied India’s Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu a place in the final with a hard fought 21-15, 18-21, 21-15 in 76 minutes.
Rio Olympics champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi again showed their supremacy over Denmark’s Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christina Pedersen with a straight sets 21-12, 21-11. The match was a repeat of the Rio Olympics final.
The Japanese will square up against young Chinese sensation Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan – 23-21, 22-20 winners over the experienced Korean pair of Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee – for the title.
Defending champions Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock of England, will take on China’s Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen for the mixed doubles title.
RESULTS (Semi-finals)
Men’s singles
Tian Houwei (Chn) beat Jan O Jorgensen (Den) 21-17, 19-21, 21-13
Viktor Axelsen (Den) beat San Wan-ho (Kor) 21-17, 21-19
Women’s singles
Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) beat P.V. Sindhu (Ind) 21-15, 18-21, 21-15
Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) beat Sun Yu (Chn) 21-19 21-19
Men’s doubles
Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda (Jpn) beat Mads Conrad Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding (Den) 21-17, 21-19
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Chai Biao-Hong Wei (Chn) 21-18, 21-16
Women’s doubles
Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) beat Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen (Den) 21-12, 21-11
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) beat Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 23-21. 22-20
Mixed doubles
Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock (Eng) beat Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto (Ina) 21-19, 17-21, 21-9
Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) beat Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Den) 21-14, 21-18
