# Malaysian to face India’s Anand Pawar in the final
# Zulfadli beats unseeded Brazilian in semi-final
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By Rizal Abdullah
Malaysia’s former world and asian junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli is one step away from winning his senior international title when he qualified for the final in the 3rd Yonex Brazil Grand Prix in the city of Foz do Iguacu.
In the semi-finals played on Saturday the Malaysian, however was fully stretched by unseeded Brazilian Ygor Coelho De Oliveira before prevailing 21-18, 24-22 in 72 minutes.
Zulfadli will face India’s fourth seed Anand Pawar who upset second seed Misha Zilberman of Israel in a three-set battle. The Indian came back from a set down to win 18-21, 21-14, 21-12 in 69 minutes.
India will also feature in the mixed doubles final when top seeds Pranaav Jerry Chopra-Reddy N. Sikki won their semi-final encounter against Germany’s Fabian Holzer-Barbara Bellenberg 21-18, 21-15.
The Indians will face second seeds Toby Ng-Rachel Honderich of Canada in the final. The Canadians overcame Germany’s Michael Fuch-Eva Janssens 16-21, 21-19, 21-17 for a crack at the title.
Last year China made a clean sweep of all the five titles at stake with five world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan winning the men’s singles title. In the final Lin Dan beat Spain’s Pablo Aiman 21-13, 21-17.
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SELECTED RESULTS (Semi-Finals)
Men’s singles
Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) beat Ygor Coelho De Oliveira (Bra) 21-18, 24-22
Anand Pawar (Ind) beat Misha Zilberman (Isr) 18-21, 21-14, 21-12
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Mixed Doubles
Pranaav Jerry Chopra-Reddy N. Rikki (Ind) beat Fabian Holzer-Barbara Bellenberg (Ger) 21-18, 21-15
Toby Ng-Rachel Honderich (Can) beat Micheal Fuchs-Eva Janssens (Ger) 16-21, 21-19, 21-17
