Chinese badminton players reach finals in four events at Japan Open

Chinese players advanced to the championship round in four of five events at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Japan Open after Saturday's semifinals in Tokyo, only missing out in the men's doubles competition.

China's top men's singles player Shi Yuqi, now the highest-ranked male remaining after the early exits of the top two seeds, secured his spot in the final after beating French shuttler Christo Popov.

Shi, who has experienced fluctuating form this year due to gastrointestinal issues, dominated the first game 21-12. The second frame proved much tougher, with Shi saving three game points before prevailing 28-26.

He will face defending champion Alex Lanier of France in Sunday's final. Lanier previously stunned Shi in last year's semifinals, on the way to claiming the first BWF World Tour Super 750 title of his career.

The women's singles final will feature the tournament's top two seeds. South Korea's World No. 1 An Se-young cruised past Japan's Riko Gunji 21-12, 21-10 to continue her chase for a sixth title of the season. She will meet second seed Wang Zhiyi of China, who defeated home favorite Akane Yamaguchi 21-15, 21-18.

In the women's doubles semifinals, China's Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning swept past compatriots Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu 21-7, 21-16. They will take on Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan for the title.

In the mixed doubles event, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin brushed aside Malaysia's Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-12, 21-16. They will go up against Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in the final.

The men's doubles final will see Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin battle South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.