It was semifinals day at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2022 and we were treated to some quality badminton in the season’s finale. Europe’s hopes in the men’s singles were carried into the final by Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who together with Tai Tzu Ying reaches the record of six end of season finals!
The reigning champion from Bali took on the new challenger from Japan, Kodai Naraoka, and was made to really sweat when at one point he stared defeat in the face. The match was the polar opposite of their encounter in the group stages, where Axelsen scored a win with two simple games.
Naraoka, who has been a sensation in 2022, cleverly managed the conditions and held his nerve to win the opening game, 23-21. Axelsen fans were awaiting a response in the second game, however, the speedy Japanese shuttler continued the frustrate the tall Dane. The decisive response came very late. When 19-17 down, Axelsen scored 4 vital points in a row to force a decider and punched the air in celebration.
A shattered and dejected Naraoka battled on valiantly, however, the Olympic champion had too much know-how and stamina left in the tank, despite a late scare of losing five match points. The match ended 21-23, 21-19, 21-18.
Axelsen will now face Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the final, who too overcame a marathon match against his compatriot Jonatan Christie. It will be the sixth time they meet in 2022, Axelsen holds a 5-0 head-to-head advantage.
Men’s Doubles
Mohammad Ahsan/ Hendra Setiawan a.k.a. ‘The Daddies’, put on a great show in how to keep cool, calm and collected when it matters most. Defeating Ong Yew Sin/ Teo Ee Yi 17-21, 21-13, 21-19 to set up a chance to repeat their 2019 success.
Fajar Alfian/ Muhammad Rian Ardianto were focused on making it an all-Indonesian final, however, China spoilt the party with Liu Yu Chen/ Ou Xuan Yi battling their way to a 22-20, 11-21, 21-19 win.
Liu Yu Chen has the chance to become the first player to win the World Tour Finals with two different partners, after winning with the now retired Li Jun Hui in 2018.
Women’s Doubles
Home fans had plenty to cheer about when the sisterly duo of Benyapa Aimsaard/ Nuntakarn Aimsaard defeated Korea’s Jeong Na-eun/ Kim Hye-jeong 22-20, 21-15.
They now face tough opponents in the final with 2019 champions Chen Qing Chen/ Jia Yi Fan getting the job done against compatriots Zhang Shu Xian/ Zheng Yu, 21-19, 21-13.
Women’s Singles
Tai Tzu Ying made history in reaching her sixth end of season final by overturning the result against in-form He Bing Jiao in the group stages. Tai looked her stylish best winning 21-18, 21-14.
A familiar rival awaits her in double world champion Akane Yamaguchi who dispatched 2019 champion Chen Yu Fei 21-19, 21-10.
Mixed Doubles
Can it be three in-a-row for Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai? To achieve this on home soil would be special. The Thai pair look comfortable in Bangkok and surpassed the tough test against Rinov Rivaldy/ Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, winning 24-22, 16-21, 21-14.
World champions Zheng Si Wei/ Huang Ya Qiong cruised into the final, defeating Tan Kian Meng/ Lai Pei Jing 21-10, 21-15.