Japan’s Men’s and Women’s Doubles pairs performed impressively this afternoon to romp towards the semi-finals of the CR Land BWF World Superseries Finals.
Second seeds in Men’s Doubles, Hiroyuki Endo/Kenichi Hayakawa (below) came through easily against Thai partners Bodin Issara/Maneepong Jongjit in Group B. The Japanese took just 18 minutes to win 21-11 21-9. Endo and Hayakawa have thus sealed their place in the semis, along with China’s Hong Wei/Shen Ye (below) as both have registered two victories each.
In Women’s Doubles at Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, top seeds Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito (Japan) were pushed to the brink by another Thai pair, Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul. However, the Japanese (featured image) prevailed 21-11 18-21 21-19 in an hour and 18 minutes.
Unfortunately for Japan, their singles players could not join their compatriots in winners’ row. World No. 5 Kenichi Tago surrendered tamely to No. 23 Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-18 21-13 in a Men’s Group B encounter. On the women’s side, veteran Eriko Hirose tested top seed Li Xuerui (China) in the first game, even having a game point. Steely Li rose to the 
occasion to earn her second Group A triumph, 25-23 21-15.
AFTERNOON HIGHLIGHTS
• China won all five of their matches this afternoon. Men’s Singles favourite Chen Long was tested by Malaysia’s Liew Daren in Group B, but Chen won the contest 23-25 21-8 21-12. Recent Hong Kong Open Women’s Doubles champions Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei took just 19 minutes to dispose of Poon Lok Yan/Tse Ying Suet (Hong Kong) in Group A, 21-6 21-9.
• Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon celebrated her maiden win over world No. 3 Saina Nehwal after three successive losses. The 17-year-old played maturely to wrest the Women’s Singles Group B match 21-13 21-16. It was Nehwal’s second straight loss in the year-end event.
• Veteran Thai pair Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam held the in-form Xu Chen/Ma Jin (China) for more than an hour, eventually succumbing 21-14 18-21 21-12 in their Mixed Doubles, Group A encounter.
See day’s full results here.
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