Badminton (International) -- News

[MODMAN]

KUMAMOTO MASTERS: QUALIFIER OBAYASHI STUNS ANTONSEN

Qualifier Takuma Obayashi created a sensation at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2023 beating world No.10 Anders Antonsen to enter the semifinals.

This is the Obayashi’s best performance at this level in only his second event on the HSBC BWF World Tour. The world No.37, had won three lower-rung tournaments this year – the Vietnam International Challenge, the Saipan International and the BNI Indonesia Masters II (Super 100).

The 24-year-old started strongly in his quarterfinal, but after Antonsen stormed back to take the second game, it looked like the Dane had found his rhythm. As the third game wore on Obayashi gave nothing away, while Antonsen couldn’t keep his consistency and he went down 21-12 10-21 21-12 to the Japanese, who will take on top seed Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals.

Click here for full story

 

[MODMAN]

SMASHING STATS: KOREA MASTERS 2023

Starting as an International Challenge in 2007, the Korea Masters has been an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 event since 2018.

Here is some interesting information about it.

• Since its inception, Korean players have dominated the tournament.
• Of the 70 winners’ medals handed out over 14 editions, just 12 were to non-Koreans.
• Those dozen are from China, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong China.
• China are also the only country other than the hosts to have contested at least one final since 2017.
• None of the foreign players have won more than once.
• Olympic champions Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin, seeded second, can become the first to do it this year.
• Jeon Hyeok Jin is the only returning defending champion.
• Retaining the title will make him the second men’s singles player after compatriot Lee Dong Keun to win three titles. Jeon also triumphed in 2017.
• Top seed in men’s and mixed doubles, Seo Seung Jae has the chance to leave as the joint-second most successful male player in tournament history.
• Seo is currently on three titles, two short of Yoo Yeon Seong’s total.
• Four-time champion Shin Seung Chan, as well as Son Wan Ho, Kim Jae Hwan and Kim Won Ho are the other previous winners in the draw.
• Glory for mixed doubles second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin will make China the maiden overseas country to consecutively win a category.

Click here for full story

 

[MODMAN]

BWF China Masters 2023: Lee Zii Jia out in quarter-finals, season likely over

Barring a surprise number of withdrawals from next month's World Tour Finals, Lee's season is over after a straight-games defeat to Nishimoto Kenta at the China Masters.

Lee Zii Jia's hopes of playing in the badminton World Tour Finals 2023 next month are all but over after suffering a quarter-final loss at the BWF China Masters 2023 in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China, on Friday (24 November), a tournament that's live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com in selected territories.

The world number 11, also ranked 11th in the race for the eighth and last Finals place, was downed by Japan's Nishimoto Kenta 11-21, 12-21. As Nishimoto was the man directly in front of him in the standings, Lee's Finals goal is now mathematically out of reach.

It was a disappointing end to the campaign for the Malaysian, who is guaranteed to finish the year 11th in the Race to Finals and is now effectively relying on three withdrawals from the Finals in order to secure an invitation to the season-ending event.

Click here for full story

 

[MODMAN]

BADMINTON INTERNATIONAL​

 

[MODMAN]

CHINA MASTERS: MILESTONE ON THE LINE FOR NARAOKA, NISHIMOTO

A first HSBC BWF World Tour title beckons Kodai Naraoka as the world No.5 made the final of the LI-NING China Masters 2023. Facing him will be compatriot Kenta Nishimoto, for whom the title assumes special significance as it will guarantee him a place in the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023.

Quite interestingly, the two have never met previously in international competition.

In semifinals action on Saturday, Naraoka held off another compatriot, Kanta Tsuneyama, in a tricky 69-minute affair, while Nishimoto had it far easier against local hope Zhao Jun Peng, easing through 21-17 21-8 in just 39 minutes.

The women’s doubles final too will be an all-Japanese affair, with Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida and Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota surviving difficult opponents.

Click here for full story