An Se Young prevails in an epic to reach third All England final
An Se Young prevailed in an epic to make the YONEX All England women’s singles final in the evening session of semi-final Saturday.
Up against old foe Akane Yamaguchi, An thwarted every attempt by her Japanese opponent to return to the showpiece.
She will face Wang Zhi Yi of China, one of four final debutants to come through the evening session.
An’s match against Yamaguchi may have only lasted two games but it packed in enough action to last a tournament.
The two powerhouses of women’s singles went toe-to-toe, with An getting over the line just as cramp inhibited her, a sign of the physical effort it took to get to the final.
The 2023 champion triumphed 21-12 21-17 having reeled a fast-starting Yamaguchi in before turning the first game on its head.
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Yamaguchi battled hard to stay with An in the second before the world number one saw a chance and took it, ending the Japanese shuttler’s hopes of a second title in Birmingham.
Wang had a more straightforward passage, beating compatriot Han Yue 21-10 21-19, a victory that saw her expend much less energy than An.
The women’s doubles final line-up was completed in the first match of the session as Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto booked their place in an all-Japan showpiece.
The pair have both won the All England title with separate partners but will now bid for a first title together after a 21-16 21-17 win over Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian of China.
After her partnership with Wakana Nagahara came to an end, Matsumoto was delighted to that Fukushima took her up on the offer of playing together.
She said: “We all get older. In our athlete’s lives we know we are getting into the later stage, so when we contemplate what we want to do and how we want to play or what sort of goals we want to reach.
“I could only think she was the only one I wanted to pair with. Now I know that my selection was right.
“I’m glad she also saw that she wanted to challenge for things again with me.”
Leo Rolly Carnando and former All England winner Bagas Maulana rode the wave to triumph in all-Indonesian men’s doubles semi-final.
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The pair beat compatriots Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 21-14 17-21 21-15 in just under an hour.
The world no.18s now have the opportunity to add a Super 1000 trophy to their Korea Open title they won last year.
Their opponents were gracious in defeat, pleased to see an Indonesian pair in the final as Maulana and Carnando aim to stretch the run of men’s doubles titles for their country to four.
That is something that is not lost on Maulana, who won the title that started the trend in 2022.
He said: “Indonesia is usually in the men’s doubles finals here. It’s motivating for us to be in the final and for Indonesian men’s doubles.
“The crowds here are different to other tournaments. The Indonesian men’s doubles teams are happy to play here.”
They will face Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea after they came from behind to beat He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu of China 16-21 21-13 21-13.
Seo and Kim’s battling performance has earned them a first YONEX All England final berth.
Kim said: “It feels like a dream that might not come back again. I feel grateful to be able to play with Seung Jae at such a big tournament.”
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Photo courtesy of Badmintonphoto
