Shi Yuqi sets up badminton world final with Kunlavut Vitidsarn, women’s champ An Se-young falls

PARIS - World number one Shi Yuqi survived two match points on Aug 30 to book a world championship final meeting with Thai titleholder Kunlavut Vitidsarn, as top seed An Se-young was upset on the women’s side of the draw.

Chinese star Shi battled back from 18-20 down in the second game to beat Canadian youngster Victor Lai 13-21, 22-20, 21-16 and keep his bid for a first world title alive.

“I felt an emotional release when this one ended,” a breathless Shi said, after 80 gruelling minutes on court.

“(Lai) played exceptionally well indeed. Although I trailed and faced sustained pressure throughout, I remained in a remarkably composed state.”

Lai, a 20-year-old student at York University in Toronto, told reporters his “unbelievable” run to a bronze medal in Paris might just convince him his future lies away from kinesiology.

“The past couple of years has been school but I think after now and this year I will focus more on badminton and put school to the side,” he said.

Shi will face third seed Kunlavut in the Aug 31 final after the 2023 winner overcame Danish second seed Anders Antonsen 21-17, 21-15.

“Shi is the world number one and I have a lot to learn from him,” said Kunlavut, who will be seeking gold after losing 2024’s Olympic Games final in the same venue.

“(It’s a) very good arena and very nice place. Tomorrow (Aug 31), I go to the final again and I hope to try my best.

“For me, I think I (have to) step up because my performance is not good enough. Sometimes it’s very high and very low.”

Sixth time lucky

South Korean An, the defending women’s champion and world number one, suffered a “bitter” upset against Chinese fourth seed Chen Yufei 21-15, 21-17.

“I couldn’t manage to get used to the conditions of the hall today, so it was a bit of a bitter match for me,” An told reporters through an interpreter.

Chen will face Japanese fifth seed Akane Yamaguchi in the final.

Yamaguchi saw off Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 14-21, 21-6.

Former world silver medallist Chen capitalised on a rare sluggish start by An to take the opening game – the first dropped all week by the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist.

Chen suffered a nasty-looking ankle twist early in the second game, but the 27-year-old shook off the pain to clinch a straight-games victory.

“(Chen twisting her ankle) didn’t mean that the match actually ended, so I was busy taking care of my match, and I guess I lost my way at the same time,” the 23-year-old An added.

Her opponent skipped speaking to the press to receive treatment immediately after the match.

Two-time champion Yamaguchi produced a scintillating third game to storm into the third world championship title match of her career.

“It’s been a while since I’ve played in a final,” said the 28-year-old, who came into the match having been eliminated from her last five consecutive tournaments at the semi-final stage.

“I reckon I’ll just go for it... I’m hoping to keep challenging myself and enjoy the experience.

“I still don’t think (my chances of winning are) that high, but since it’s the final now, I’d like to go in feeling like I’ve got a 50-50 chance.” AFP