India Open 2023: Top seeds Akane Yamaguchi, Axelsen reach semi-finals

New Delhi: Top seed Akane Yamaguchi beat three-time former world champion Carolina Marin to reach the semi-finals of the India Open badminton on Friday in three games.

In the men’s competition, world number one Viktor Axelsen also made the last four in New Delhi.

Japan’s Yamaguchi defeated Spain’s Marin 21-17, 14-21, 21-9 as she chases successive titles to start the season.

Yamaguchi, herself a two-time world champion and the current world number one, faces Supanida Katethong of Thailand in the last four on Saturday.

The other women’s semi-final is between China’s He Bingjiao and South Korea’s second seed An Se-young.

Thanks for your warm support India🙏🏻🇮🇳
Bit dissapointed about my defeat but so many things to improve. See you next week Indonesia! 🇮🇩

Un poco decepcionada por la derrota, pero nos queda margen de mejora. Nos vemos en Indonesia! 💪

📸 @badmintonphoto#PuedoPorquePiensoQuePuedo pic.twitter.com/hRFVgnaSFK

— Carolina Marín (@CarolinaMarin) January 20, 2023

In the men’s singles, top seed Axelsen advanced after his Danish compatriot Rasmus Gemke suffered a leg injury during the first game and had to retire.

Axelsen will take on Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie.

The other semi-final is between Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia and Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

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