Shi and Chen storm into BWF French Open semi-finals

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Chinese shuttlers took up half of the semi-final spots in the men's and women's singles events at the 2018 BWF French Open on Friday.

Second-seeded Shi Yuqi fared well at the start against South Korean Son Wan Ho, building an 11-2 lead at the changeover, before tasting a 21-11 victory in the first game. The second game ran more tightly as Son made his response, but Shi still pulled away for a 21-13 win.

Men's singles Olympic gold medalist Chen Long eliminated the Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-18, 12-21, 21-16.

"He played better and more confidently after winning the Asian Games champion. He began to find the rhythm late in the first game, but I stayed concentrated in the decider," Chen pointed out.

Shi will take on Dane Rasmus Gemke in the semifinal. Much more challenge awaits Chen as he will face Japanese ace Kento Momota, who saw off defending champion Kidambi Srikanth of India 21-16, 21-19.

Chen Yufei, the women's singles fourth seed, rallied past Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 16-21, 21-16, 21-13, setting up a semifinal clash with top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.

"A sluggish start caused much pressure for me in the first game. Since the second, I became more patient and did not concede turnovers easily," said Chen.

Despite an inferior head-to-head against Tai, Chen said that she has become more mature and confident, looking forward to challenging Tai in Saturday's semifinals.

Chen was joined in the final four by teammate He Bingjiao, who outclassed Pusarla V. Sindhu of India 21-13, 21-16.

Shi Yuqi will next face Danish star Rasmus Gemke in the semi-final at the BWF French Open. /VCG Photo

In men's doubles, Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong, both aged 20, dived deeper into competition after seeing off Liao Min Chun and Su Ching Heng of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-18.

The young Chinese pair will face defending champions Lee Jhe-Huei and Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei.

Indonesian duo of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, the world No. 1, displayed supremacy as they got past Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-11.

Mixed doubles witnessed different scenarios from the top two seeds. Top-ranked Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong overcame Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of England 21-16, 21-19, while their teammates Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping suffered a 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 loss to Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand.

Another disappointing loss arrived for Japan, as the reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi fell to Bulgarian sister duo of Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva 21-8, 21-16. Japanese women's shuttlers had already lost their ace pairing Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota.

No Chinese pair made into quarterfinals in this event following Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu's loss on Thursday.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency