Verge of History – Day 8: Asian Games 2018

Verge of History – Day 8: Asian Games 2018

Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet moved into gold medal contention at the Asian Games 2018 yesterday after they overcame Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping in a three-game thriller.

The Hong Kong Mixed Doubles duo (featured image) prevailed by the tightest of margins against the World Championships runners-up, 22-20 19-21 23-21, and have a shot at history when they take on reigning World champions Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (China). No Hong Kong pair has won a Mixed Doubles gold at the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, top seeds Zheng/Huang broke the hearts of the home crowd as they shut out Indonesian superstars and Olympic champions Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir 21-13 21-18.

Indonesia were also stopped in the Women’s Doubles semi-finals, with fourth seeds Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu running out of steam against second seeds Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (Japan), 21-15 21-17. The Olympic champions take on China’s Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, who brushed aside top seeds Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (Japan) 21-17 21-8.

But Indonesia had plenty going their way. Anthony Ginting continued his giant-killing act: a day after shocking World champion Kento Momota, the Indonesian felled Olympic champion Chen Long (China), 21-19 21-11, to make the semi-finals against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen. Another Indonesian, Jonatan Christie, also made the semi-finals in the top half, getting past Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki 21-11 21-18. Christie faces Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.

In Women’s Singles, Pusarla V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal gave their compatriots hope for an all-India final. Pusarla outplayed Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11 16-21 21-14 and will do battle against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi – a 21-19 21-11 winner over China’s Chen Yufei. Nehwal eased past Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-18 21-16 and will hope to break her disappointing run of results against Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who had it easy against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, 21-15 21-10.

Indonesia also had a great day in Men’s Doubles, with top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto making the semi-finals in opposite halves.

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