NEW DELHI: South Korea's world number one An Se-young and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi registered strong wins to reach the semifinals of the badminton world championships on Friday.
Olympic champion An beat China's Han Yue, who is ranked fifth in the world, 21-19, 21-12 at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium as she bids to win a second world crown.
An will face China's world number three Wang Zhiyi, who served past Line Christophersen of Denmark 21-10, 21-7 in the quarterfinal clash to ensure herself a medal.
There was no third-place play-off match, so both losing semifinalists will receive bronze medals.
Japanese star Yamaguchi — a three-time world champion who won the crown in Paris last year — beat Michelle Li of Canada 21-17, 21-10 in 28 minutes in a strong show of intent.
Yamaguchi will clash with Pornpawee Chochuwong, who got a walkover after Japan's Nozomi Okuhara withdrew from the contest due to a knee injury.
In men's singles, seventh-seeded Victor Lai of Canada had a tough outing against Denmark's Rasmus Gemke before he beat the unseeded player 21-19, 21-18 in 54 minutes.
World number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn fell to Alex Lanier of France 21-19, 16-21, 16-21.
Tenth-ranked Lanier made Kunlavut stretch with top smashes and returns and fought back after losing the opening game to make his first semifinal in the showpiece event.
Japan's 10th-seeded Kodai Naraoka stunned Denmark's world number four Anders Antonsen 21-19, 21-15 to advance to the final four.
Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen won a second medal at the showpiece after he served past Indonesia's Alwi Farhan 21-15, 21-15 in the quarterfinals. Chou won a bronze in 2022.
World number six Chou vanquished 11th-seeded Farhan in 50 minutes to become the second oldest player to get a world championship medal at 36.
Chou will face Naraoka in the semifinal. Lai and Lanier will face off in the other final-four clash. — AFP
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