China to face Japan in women's final, hosts prevail in Asian Games badminton

Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-21 23:41:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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JAKARTA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese women's badminton team set up a highly-anticipated final with Japan, and their men's counterparts will take on hosts Indonesia following Tuesday's semi-final victory here at the 18th Asian Games.

In women's semi-finals, China revenged their loss to Thailand in the same stage of the 2018 Uber Cup by triumphing in straight sets.

China's top singles player Chen Yufei stormed to a 9-1 lead, and cruised to a 21-14 victory in the opening game of a rematch against Ratchanok Intanon.

Intanon regrouped herself in the following game to force her way back 21-17. Chen withstood early-game tussle to build an 11-7 lead at changeover in the decider. Despite losing five straight points after leading by 17-12, Chen stood firm under pressure to seal a 21-17 win through a slew of errors from her opponent.

Former world No. 1 Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan overcame stiff resistance to beat Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai and extend China's overall lead.

Chen and Jia savored the win of 22-20 in a topsy-turvy first game, before being forced into the decider by their Thai opponents 21-16.

The Chinese duo took charge from the outset of the third game, and bagged the victory of 21-14 from their five-point mid-game lead.

He Bingjiao, who had not featured in Uber Cup semifinals' squad, fought past Nitchaon Jindapol 21-17, 21-12 to earn China a final berth in their quest of sixth consecutive title.

Top-seeded Japan held firm under heated atmosphere in Gelora Bung Karno ISTORA to eliminate Indonesia 3-1.

After their top option Yamaguchi Akane fell to Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in full sets, Japan rushed through the contention thanks to victories by Fukushima Yuki/Hirota Sayaka, Okuhara Nozomi and Matsutomo Misaki/Takahashi Ayaka.

For men's side, China went down 1-0 against Chinese Taipei as Shi Yuqi lost to Chou Tienchen 21-13, 21-19.

China's journey to the final went from bad to worse as Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen lost the first game 21-19 against Chen Hungling and Wang Chilin, but the world champions turned the match in their favor to win 21-12, 21-9.

Olympic champion Chen Long also withstood a 21-18 first-game loss to sweep aside Wang Tzuwei 21-13, 21-17.

The 2017 World Championships doubles title holders Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan prevailed over Lee Jhehuei and Lee Yang 21-13, 21-17 in their debut at the tournament to lift China past Chinese Taipei 3-1.

It was different scenario in men's semifinals between the same sides, as Indonesia shocked Japan 3-1 to stand across from the net against China.

Although world champion Momota Kento fought back from an 8-15 deficit in the decider to beat Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, other Japanese shuttlers could not deal with pressure from Indonesian crowds afterwards.

World No. 1 pairing Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo spearheaded the hosts' comeback, and that was fueled by their teammates Jonatan Christie and Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto to make the final.

China hope to reclaim its glory in men's team event after losing to South Korea in the final four years ago.

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