Japan’s Misaki-Ayaka pair in last four

KUCHING: The top- seed of Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2017 women’s doubles Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi from Japan sealed their place in the semifinals during a nervewracking match against the Chinese pair of Huang Dongping and Li Yinhui.

Losing the first set 18- 21, the match entered the second set which saw the Japanese pair making a strong comeback with 21-14, pushing the game to the third set. In the decider, the Japanese pair was seen an easy favourite as they outwitted and outplayed the Chinese pair to a rousing victory of 18- 21, 21-14, 21-17 at Stadium Perpaduan in Petra Jaya.

In the other match, second-seed pair from Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christina Pedersen lost to South Korea’s Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee 12-21, 21-15, 21-14.

With the win, the Koreans have booked their place in the semifinals today against Chinese pair of Huang Yaqiong and Tang Jinhua after a comfortable win against their compatriot Bao Yixin and Yu Xiaohan 21-17, 21-14.

In the men’s doubles, Japan’s second-seed pair Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda also made it to the semifinals after beating Bodin Isara and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet 21-16, 21-19.

Meanwhile, top seed mixed doubles pair from China, Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen, cruised to the quarterfinals after beating Hong Kong’s mixed pair of Reginald Lee Chun Hei and Chau Hoi Wah 21-16, 21- 9.

Their compatriot, fourth- seed pair of Lu Kai and Huan Yagjong also booked their place in the opposite side of the semifinals fixture after beating Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-16,2117.