World No. 1 Son Wan-ho overpowered two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China at the Japan Badminton Open on Friday. South Korea’s Son beat the Chinese gre
World No. 1 Son Wan-ho overpowered two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China at the Japan Badminton Open on Friday.
South Korea’s Son beat the Chinese great with a hard-fought 21-15,21-15 quarterfinal victory at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and now faces world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the semifinals.
“I wasn’t pressured, and I was in good physical condition. I tried to be on the offensive side and Lin made quite a lot of errors,” Son said. “I lost to Lin last time, so it feels good to win.”
Axelsen, who clinched beat Lin to clinch the world title in Glasgow last month, brushed off a challenge from Indian ace Kidambi Srikanth 21-17,21-17.
Defending champion Lee Chong Wei squeezed past fourth-seeded rising star Chou Tien-chen of Taipei 21-11,15-21,21-19.
The Malaysian, who has won the Japan Open six times, will face Shi Yuqi in the other semifinal after the Chinese second seed beat India’s HS Prannoy 21-15,21-14.
