The semifinals day at the India Open witnessed some intense battles.
While Yuta Watanabe/ Arisa Higashino avenged their loss to Zheng Siwei/ Huang Yaqiong, An Se Young overcame He Bingjiao for the first time in five meetings. However, the seventh match was the showstopper.
It was a masterclass, almost an exhibition by the all-conquering reigning world and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. He came out with all guns blowing against the Indonesian star Jonatan Christie. Playing at an electric pace, the world number one ran away with the opener 21-6. It was more of the same in the second as Christie had little resistance to offer. Axelsen wrapped things up 21-12 in under 40 minutes.
While the Danish superstar has had hiccups against Rasmus Gemke and Shi Yuqi during the last two weeks, he is still miles ahead of the competition. Axelsen blew past three Japanese men’s singles athletes on three consecutive days in Malaysia last week. He shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
His unyielding efforts have gifted him an unprecedented fifth India Open final tomorrow. Speaking of finals, the Dane has contested an astounding 12 finals since his famous Olympic gold in Tokyo. What’s more, he has won every single one of them.
Tomorrow, he faces the young star Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the player he had vanquished in the 2022 World Championships final. Can the Thai hopeful step up to challenge the very best?