News

Semi-final September 23 (Sat)　

⦿ Men's doubles
Mathias Boe ／Carsten Mogensen（Denmark）　VS　Marcus Fernaldi GIDEON ／Kevin Sanjaya SUKAMULJO（Indonesia）

＊win-loss record: Boe ／Mogensen 4 wins and 1 losses

GIDEON (WR 2nd) who is good at feint shots at net said that,

"We are looking forward to the match tomorrow!"

There is a reason why a trickster, who is said to be the world's best front player, speaks it in this way. It is because their opponents in the semifinals will be Boe /Mogensen (WR 1st), a powerful enemy who is not to be easily caught on a feint. In the quarter-finals GIDEON ／Sanjaya defeated a young Danish pair but Boe / Mogensen is a mature pair. "We will not be able to win in the semifinals if we make simple mistakes like today. " said GIDEON cautiously.

Boe / Mogensen, 37 years old & 34 years old, who rank first in the world ranking, will be facing this Indonesian pair. "We just want to play the game in our best way and style" they commented.

The strength of the Denmark pair is quick analytic skills supported by high experience and a lot of techniques to overcome tough moments.

Thrilling game is awaiting tomorrow.

⦿ Check Boe profile and racket.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-11.html

⦿ Check Mogensen profile and racket.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-17.html

⦿ Check GIDEON profile and racket.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-29.html

⦿ Check Sanjaya profile and racket.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-30.html

⦿ Women's doubles
Ayaka TAKAHASHI／Misaki MATSUTOMO（Nihon Unisys）　VS　 Yuki FUKUSHIMA／Sayaka HIROTA（Saishunkan）

＊win-loss record (International games): FUKUSHIMA／HIROTA 2 wins and 1 losses

This is probably the most wanted to see women's doubles semifinals match for Japanese badminton fans. It is a match between TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO (WR 1st) and FUKUSHIMA / HIROTA (WR 5th).

TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO is well known the Rio Olympics gold medalist pair. They were already well noted before the Olympics and many of us have seen their name and play.

However, FUKUSHIMA / HIROTA have turned into a silver medalist at the world championship in only half a year since joining Japan national team this year. So, there are still very few people who have seen their strength directly. As they defeated TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO pair in March 's All English Championship and Malaysia Open in April, now our question is which pair is stronger now?

FUKUSHIMA reveals the reason why they could defeat the Olympic gold medalist pair in two consecutive championships.

"As the opponent was Olympic medalist pair, rather than building up a counter strategy, we simply tried to keep our confidence through the game aiming the victory. In badminton attacking is always better. By attacking is easier to take rhythm and you can pressurize the opponent. Our style is attacking, so we focused on this strategy."

They also said they would be heading to the semifinals with the feeling of the challenger as always.

Meanwhile, TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO said, "Our play style doesn't change whether opponents are overseas players or not. We will follow our play style at this game as well."

However, recently instead of backcourt side TAKAHASHI scoring, they will try new style which at first Takahashi attempts to force opponent to break their preferred formation then, MATSUTOMO closes the game.

Evolving Olympic gold medalist pair and world championship runner up newcomer pair.
An attractive game will be played in the 4th game tomorrow.

⦿ Check Ayaka TAKAHASHI profile.
https://www.unisys.co.jp/com/sponsors/badminton/team/w/takahashi.html

⦿ Check Misaki MATSUTOMO profile.
https://www.unisys.co.jp/com/sponsors/badminton/team/w/matsutomo.html

⦿ Check Yuki FUKUSHIMA profile.
http://www.saishunkan-badminton.jp/archives/member/207

⦿ Check Sayaka HIROTA profile.
http://www.saishunkan-badminton.jp/archives/member/317

⦿ Mixed doubles
Paraveen JORDAN／Debby SUSANTO（Indonesia）　VS　WANG Yilyu／HUANG Dongping（China）

＊win-loss record: 1 win and 1 loss each

The quarterfinals became a game between China pairs, the winner was WANG／HUANG（WR 9th）of the junior pair. "Recently, seniors' pair condition was not the best," they spoke conscientiously about the reason for their victory, but we could see that junior pair showed enough power to attack while changing the course and speed.

A 22 year old Chinese pair, playing as a pair since the end of last year, will play against JORDAN / SUSANTO (WR 5th) whom they also faced at the Korean Open last week. At the Korea Open, the Indonesian pair won the game.

Based on that match, the Chinese pair said, "They are rich in experience, tactically and mentally above us, we will thoroughly study counter measures tonight."
Meanwhile, the Indonesia pair said: "Today we both got caught in tough game up to 3rd game. The pair who recovers physical strength firmly and can focus at the points of game will win tomorrow. We are ready to play."

In mixed doubles, the women will usually play in the frontcourt area controlling shuttle to create a chance for her partner, who usually covers the backcourt area, to finish the game.
Which pair will break the opponent's preferable formation is a key to the victory tomorrow.