World number one Shi Yu Qi advances to the Malaysia Open final, where he will face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a bid to defend his title.
WORLD number one Shi Yu Qi of China moved a step closer to defending his Malaysia Open men’s singles title.
The top seed defeated Denmark’s third seed Anders Antonsen 21-13, 21-14 in a 46-minute semi-final at Axiata Arena.
Shi Yu Qi said patience was the key to his success, which marked his eighth win in 12 meetings against Antonsen.
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“Tomorrow will be a new challenge for me and I will give my all,” he told reporters.
He will face Thailand’s former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final.
Kunlavut ousted Indonesia’s fourth seed Jonatan Christie 21-16, 21-16 in a 63-minute match.
The world number two admitted he expended a lot of energy due to slow shuttle movement.
He said he will give his best to clinch his first Super 1000 title.
In the women’s singles, China’s Wang Zhi Yi brushed aside India’s Pusarla V. Sindhu 21-16, 21-15.
Zhi Yi will face South Korea’s top seed An Se Young in the final.
An Se Young advanced after China’s Chen Yu Fei withdrew from their semi-final.
South Korea’s Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee stunned defending champions Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 21-12 in the women’s doubles.
China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning stormed into the final with a 21-8, 21-17 win over Jeong Na Eun and Lee Yeon Woo.
China also dominated the mixed doubles semi-finals.
World number one pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping beat Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 21-14.
Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin defeated Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund 21-15, 21-14 to complete an all-China final. – Bernama
