# Chong Wei packs off second seed Shi Yuqi in straight games
# To meet world champion Axelsen in the final
Six-time champion Lee Chong Wei is in the final of the USD325,000 Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open Super Series final and will face reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen for the title on Sunday.
The 35-year-old former world No 1 showed glimpses of his form to dump China’s second seed Shi Yuqi in the semi-finals with a 21-19, 21-8 win over the 21-year-old Chinese youngster who led 11-4 in the first set.
Chong Wei, however, tightened up his game and dug himself out of danger at the right time and slowly fought his way back into contention before catching up at 18-18. He clinched the game at 21-19. That was all Chong Wei needed as he outclassed his opponent with a 21-8 win.
The Malaysian who is the defending champion is bidding to win his seventh Japan Open title.
“This is one of my better performance and I hope to do much better in the final on Sunday,” said the Malaysian whose rankings has dropped to seven in the latest ranking list.
The win over Shi Yuqi stretched Chong Wei’s head to head advantage to 4-0.
Chong Wei’s head to head count against Axelsen stands at 9-1 in favour of the Malaysian. His only defeat at the hands of the Dane came at last year’s season ending BWF Super Series Grand Finals in Dubai. The Dane went on to win the title.
Axelsen stopped world No 1 and top seed Son Wan-ho of Korea 21-16, 21-16 in a 46 minute match. This is the second successive defeat for Won-ho at the semi-final stage as world number one and top seed. In last week’s Korea Open he was beaten by Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting 16-21, 21-18, 21-13.
The women’s singles final will be between former world No 1 Carolina Marin and China’s He Bingjiao. The Spaniard had a free ride into the final when world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan gave a walkover due to injury.
Sixth seeded Bingjiao defeated compatriot and world junior champion Chen Yufei 21-14, 25-23. BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
Semi-Final results
Men’s singles
Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Shi Yuqi (Chn) 21-19, 21-8
Viktor Axelsen (Den) beat Son Won-ho (Kor) 21-16, 21-16
Men’s doubles
Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneoko (Jpn) beat Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov (Rus) 12-21, 21-18, 21-19
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Ina) beat Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) 21-15, 21-14
Women’s singles
Carolina Marin (Spn) w/o Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn)
He Binjiao (Chn) beat Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-14, 25-23
Women’s doubles
Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) beat Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota (Jpn) 21-11, 21-15
Kim Ha-na-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) beat Naoko Fukuman-Kurumi Yonao (Jpn) 21-19, 21-11
Mixed doubles
Takuro Hoki-Sayaka Hirota (Jpn) beat Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy (Ind) 14-21, 21-15, 21-19
Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping (Chn) beat Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto (Ina) 21-14, 21-19
