Tokyo: Malaysian badminton maestro Lee Chong Wei strolled into the semi-finals of the Japan Open with a dominant straight-sets victory over Shi Yuqi of China at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday.
The 5-time Japan Open champion defeated Shi 21-12, 21-12 in the men`s singles quarter-finals to set up a clash with his good friend Marc Zwiebler of Germany for a place in the final.
However, the No. 2 seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark who defeated Lin Dan in the Rio Olympic bronze medal playoff, fell 18-21, 13-21 to South Korea’s Son Wan Ho. Son will take on another Dane player – No. 3 seed Jan O Jorgensen on Saturday.
In the mixed doubles competition, Malaysian mixed doubles pair produced a spirited fight-back in the second set, coming back from 15-18 to carve out a 21-17, 21-18 victory against Kim Gi Jung-Shin Seung Chan of Korea in a riveting quarter-final match.
The Olympic silver medalists will face No. 1 seeds Ko Sung Hyun-Kim Ha Na of Korea in the semi-finals.
