Japan’s Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda took down China’s world champions Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan for their first win in four meetings in the Wuhan City of Automobile Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday.
 
In a 66-minute thriller the Japanese kept their nerves and cool for a come-from-behind 14-21, 21-12, 25-23 win over the second seeds that left the home fans disappointed despite their partisan support.
 
In Sunday’s final the Japanese third seeds will face top seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen who defeated compatriots Huang Kaixiang-Wang Yilyu in another three-game affair to prevail 21-17, 14-21, 21-10.
 
“Going into the match we did not realise that we lost to them three-times in our previous encounters,” said Kamura.
 
“It sweet to beat our rival on Chinese soil. This is very encouraging for us as our previous meetings were also close affairs but we ended up losing.”
 
Sonoda chipped in to say “it is also nice to know that we prevented an all-China final.”
 
“We have another Chinese hurdle to clear in the final and we will work out something. Our confidence is there but we have a tough hurdle.”
 
A disappointed Zhang Nan said: “It was another tight match but we ended up losing in front of our home fans. The match did not depend on our past history against the Japanese pair.”
 
 
RESULTS (SEMI-FINALS)
 
Men’s doubles
Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda (Jpn) beat Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan (Chn) 14-21, 21-12, 25-23
 
Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) beat Huang Kaixiang-Wang Yilyu (Chn) 21-17, 14-21, 21-10
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