Li Shifeng and Leong Jun Hao will contest the men’s singles final at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 after a day of shocks.
Seventh seed Li, who won last year’s All England Open, defeated two-time reigning Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen 21-16, 21-15 in an exciting encounter on Saturday (16 November) to reach just his second BWF World Tour final of the year.
In their first career meeting, Li had the better of the early net exchanges and managed to put the Dane on the back foot. Axelsen was having to work hard to stay in touch with the 24-year-old from People’s Republic of China taking an 11-7 lead into the mid-game interval.
Axelsen won seven of the next nine points to level at 14-14, but grew visibly frustrated as a Li drop shot flicked off the net to give him no chance and put the Chinese 18-15 ahead.
The Asian Games gold medallist continued to impress with his shot variety and two consecutive overheads secured him the opening game 21-16 in 22 minutes.
Axelsen removed some strapping from his left leg before the second game, but looked to be struggling as much mentally as physically. Against an opponent showing sound defence, the top seed was trying to end rallies early with attempted winners that often missed the target.
Li turned a 4-3 lead into an 11-6 advantage at the break. Axelsen managed to draw level at 15-15 but his movement was compromised, and Li reeled off the next six points to complete victory. He is now one win away from his first title of 2024 and marked his latest triumph with a Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Siuu’ celebration.
Having beaten Lee Zii Jia on Friday, Jonathan Christie could not make it two wins over Malaysian shuttlers on consecutive days, as Leong Jun Hao continued his stunning week in Kumamoto.
The Indonesian star looked in control as he cruised to the first game 21-10 in just 16 minutes. But Leong won five consecutive points from 9-9 in the second to boost his hopes. The 25-year-old showed exceptional power in his smashes to square the match.
Christie led 11-6 and 17-10 in the decider but – seeing his opponent tiring – opted to try to lengthen the rallies. Leong, despite passing five hours on court this week, hauled himself back into the contest with six consecutive points before levelling at 18-18.
And the world number 31 converted his second match point to clinch victory 10-21, 21-18, 22-20 in an hour and 17 minutes and reach his first Super 500 final. Both his previous BWF World Tour titles have been at Super 100 level.
