A day after stunning defending champion Tai Tzu Ying, underdog Aya Ohori got the better of fifth seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the women’s singles quarterfinals to confirm herself a medal at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
The Japanese, who turned 27 on Monday, again won in straight games, 21-10 21-19, to set up a last four duel with home favourite Chen Yu Fei. Ohori, playing at her first Asiad, defeated third seed Tai 21-16 21-14 on Wednesday.
Ohori’s surprise run means Japan will be among the women’s singles medallists at successive editions after Akane Yamaguchi took bronze in 2018.
Second seed Chen on the other hand, was put through a harder test by Korea’s Women’s Team heroine Kim Ga Eun before advancing 21-17 17-21 21-15 following a gruelling 87-minute battle.
In men’s singles, H.S. Prannoy aced the most anticipated match of the day, edging a 78-minute close contest against Lee Zii Jia 21-16 21-23 22-20.
“It was a really tough one out there. Lee is always a tough opponent, and it was a very physical match,” said the world No.7, who missed the Men’s Team final for India against China due to a back injury.
“To pull off something like this, I would give a lot of credit to myself. The will to fight was always there, so I that paid off.”
Prannoy celebrates his win.
Meanwhile, Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin stayed on track for an Olympic Games-Asian Games double by seeing off top seeds Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto 21-19 21-18. The Chinese Taipei pair face Choi Sol Gyu/Kim Won Ho next.
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