The Malta Independent on Sunday
Shi faces Momota, Marin plays Sindhu in world championships finals
Badminton
Third-seeded Shi Yuqi of China beat two-time world champion Chen Long 21-11, 21-17 yesterday to reach the final of the badminton world championships, where he will face Kento Momota of Japan.
Shi looked sharp in the semifinal, returning smashes with ease and forcing his more experienced opponent into difficult shots.
He put his victory down to support off the court.
"I'm very confident because my relatives and friends from my hometown have come to support me," Shi said.
It was Shi's second straight win against Chen, after starting his career 0-4 with the 2016 Olympic champion.
This tournament could represent a possible changing of the guard for the Chinese men, as Shi also beat six-time champion Lin Dan in the round of 16.
The 22-year-old Shi's biggest career win to date was winning the All England Open title in March after losing the 2017 final of the same tournament.
Facing Shi in the final will be No. 6 seed Momota, who defeated unseeded Daren Liew of Malaysia 21-16, 21-5.
"Shi Yuqi is very comprehensive and able to defend," said Momota. "Tomorrow I will control my pace in front of the net."
Momota has been in top form since returning from a gamblingrelated suspension that sidelined him for 15 months and caused him to miss the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
He won the Indonesia Open in July and the Asia Championships in April, during which he defeated Shi in the only match the two have played against each other.
Momota is looking to become the first Japanese man to win the world championships in their 41year history.
In women's singles, two-time champion Carolina Marin of Spain beat China's He Bingjiao 13-21, 21-16, 21-13 to clinch a spot in the final against thirdseeded Pusarla Sindhu of India.
Marin was overwhelmed in the first game but got stronger as the match went on, cruising to victory in the third game.
"It means a lot to me to get to the finals," Marin said. "The next game will be difficult, but I'll try my best."
Marin improved her record to 4-1 against He and will be looking to win her first world championship since 2015.
Sindhu defeated No. 2 seed Akane Yamaguchi 21-16, 24-22 as she avenged a semifinal defeat at the All England Open in March.
It will be the second consecutive final for Sindhu, who took silver at last year's world championships, losing to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara.
Sindhu and Marin are 6-6 in career meetings. Sindhu won their last match at the Malaysia Open quarterfinals.