Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

BWF News

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk Pulls Off Stunning Upset at Adidas China Masters

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, the 18th-ranked Thai badminton player, caused a major upset at the Adidas China Masters by defeating top seed Li Xuerui in the semi-finals. This unexpected outcome in the Women’s Singles event puts Buranaprasertsuk just one win away from securing her second Superseries title. After defeating two Chinese players in a row, Han Li and Li Xuerui, Buranaprasertsuk will now face Liu Xin in the final. Liu comfortably advanced to the final by defeating Sayaka Takahashi of Japan.

Despite Li Xuerui’s loss, China still has a chance to win four titles in the tournament. They have already secured the Women’s Doubles crown with an all-Chinese final.

Semi-finals day was filled with thrilling matches. Both Men’s Singles semi-finals went into a deciding third game. Korean qualifier Son Wan Ho came from behind to defeat Japan’s Sho Sasaki, showcasing his exceptional comeback skills once again. In the other semi-final, Jan O Jorgensen from Denmark faced off against Wang Zhengming of China in a closely contested battle. Wang emerged victorious after a grueling three-game match.

However, it was Buranaprasertsuk’s victory that stole the show. With an underwhelming record against top-five players, her win over Li Xuerui came as a surprise. Buranaprasertsuk’s performance showcased her versatility and strokeplay, which neutralized Li’s powerful attacks. After a tightly contested match, Buranaprasertsuk sealed the victory with a thrilling 21-16, 15-21, 22-20 scoreline.

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In Mixed Doubles, Yoo Yeon Seong and Eom Hye Won from Korea reached their third consecutive final. They faced a tough challenge from Riky Widianto and Puspita Richi Dili of Indonesia but managed to secure a spot in the final. The Korean duo will now face Olympic champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China.

The Men’s Doubles event saw the top two ranked pairs make it to the final. Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa from Japan overcame a strong challenge from Chai Biao and Hong Wei of China, while Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun from Korea defeated Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan of China, the All England titleholders.

In the Women’s Doubles final, world champions Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli will face Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua, both from China. Yu and Wang have been dominant, winning 44 of their last 46 matches. Ma and Tang had to overcome a tough test from Jang Ye Na and Kim So Young of Korea to secure their place in the final.

This thrilling day of badminton at the Adidas China Masters provided plenty of excitement and surprises. The stage is now set for an intense final showdown in all three categories.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Yoo Yeon Seong and Eom Hye Won of Korea advanced to the Mixed Doubles final, where they will face Olympic champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China.
  • Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa from Japan and Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun from Korea will battle it out in the Men’s Doubles final.
  • The Women’s Doubles final will feature a clash between world champions Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli and Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua, both from China.
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Text by Dev Sukumar | Edwin Leung

FAQs

Q: Who caused a major upset at the Adidas China Masters?
A: Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, the 18th-ranked Thai player, pulled off a stunning upset by defeating top seed Li Xuerui in the semi-finals.

Q: What is at stake for Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in the final?
A: Buranaprasertsuk is one victory away from securing her second Superseries title.

Q: Who will Porntip Buranaprasertsuk face in the final?
A: Buranaprasertsuk will face Liu Xin in the final.

Q: Which Chinese players have secured the Women’s Doubles crown?
A: China has already secured the Women’s Doubles title with an all-Chinese final.

Summary

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk’s surprising victory over top seed Li Xuerui at the Adidas China Masters has set the stage for an exciting final in the Women’s Singles event. Buranaprasertsuk’s win puts her one step closer to securing her second Superseries title. Despite Li’s loss, China still has a chance to win four titles in the tournament. The semi-finals saw thrilling matches in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles events, with unexpected comebacks and closely contested battles. The stage is now set for intense finals in all three categories.