Tokyo: Rio 2016 gold medalists Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo of Japan will set up a rematch of last month’s women’s doubles Olympic gold medal match against Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark at the Japan Open final on Sunday.
The No. 1 seed Ayaka Takahashi/Misaki Matsutomo secured their 1st set against compatriots Koharu Yonemoto and Shiho Tanaka easily with 21-14 in the women’s doubles semi-final that took place on Saturday. Takahashi/Matsutomo then fended off a strong resistance from Yonemoto/Tanaka in the second set, wrapping up the game 21-19.
“Although physically I am not in good shape, but I am glad we could advance to the final,” said Takahashi.
In other women’s doubles semi-final, No. 2 seeds Pedersen and Rytter Juhl had to work hard to battle past No. 3 seeds Luo Ying and Luo Yu of China 21-23, 21-16, 21-17.
Despite recent retirement of several top Chinese women’s singles shuttlers such as Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian, there’s no lack of great women’s singles talent in the Chinese team as both Sun Yu and He Bingjiao advanced to the finals.
Sun Yu held a 28 CM height advantage against Akane Yamaguchi as she defeated last year’s runner-up Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-18 in 51 minutes.
On the other hand, the 2013 Asian junior champion He Bingjiao managed to save three matches points in in the second set, coming from 17-20 to pull off great escape to reach Japan Open final against unseeded Aya Ohori of Japan 21-17, 22-20.
