Japan Open Badminton: Antonsen beat Tsuneyama- Denmark’s Anders Antonsen advanced to the semi-finals of badminton’s Japan Open with an “explosive” 21-11, 21-12 win over Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama on Friday. Follow Japan Open Badminton Live updates on InsideSport.IN
Number three seed Antonsen needed just 49 minutes to see off Tsuneyama in Osaka and set up a final-four showdown with Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.
Japan Open Badminton: Anders Antonsen eases past Kanta Tsuneyama to reach Japan Open semifinals, will meet Kenta Nishimoto
Antonsen said he had “not many expectations” for this week after losing to Nishimoto in the first round of last week’s world championships in Tokyo, but the 25-year-old said he was “improving, slowly”.
“I didn’t make that many mistakes and I was quite explosive — I think I played a good match,” said Antonsen, who is returning from a three-month injury lay-off.
“I just wanted to have fun and get back to my game and I’m working on that every single day. I’m not there yet but these three matches have been very good.”
China’s Shi Yuqi will face Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen in Saturday’s other semi-final.
Shi thrashed Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-6, 21-13, while Chou outlasted India’s HS Prannoy 21-17, 15-21, 22-20. Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who won the world title last week, pulled out on the eve of the Japan Open.
Japan Open Badminton: Anders Antonsen eases past Kanta Tsuneyama to reach Japan Open semifinals, will meet Kenta Nishimoto
On the women’s side, Japan’s world champion Akane Yamaguchi advanced with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
Spain’s Carolina Marin fell in the quarter-finals for the second straight week, losing 21-18, 13-21, 21-17 to South Korean number three seed An Se-young.
“I’m a bit disappointed that I lost today but I know I am on my way back,” said Marin, who returned to the court in May following a knee injury that sidelined her for a year.
“I know that I am improving. I believe in myself so this is the most important thing for me right now.”
Yamaguchi will play China’s Chen Yufei in Saturday’s semi-finals, while An will face Taiwanese number two seed Tai Tzu-ying.
Japan Open Badminton: Anders Antonsen eases past Kanta Tsuneyama to reach Japan Open semifinals, will meet Kenta Nishimoto
Follow Japan Open Badminton Live updates on InsideSport.IN
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