In the quarterfinals of the Japan Open 2013, reigning women’s singles champion and VICTOR star, Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, once more dispatched a tough opponent in straight games, local girl Sayaka Takahashi, to march into the semifinals.

 

Tai Tzu Ying

 

After resting for a week, Tai faced up and coming Japanese player Sayaka Takahashi. She was down 8:17 in the first game, but relying on her rich experience and deft touch in front of the net, miraculously fought back to turn the nine point deficit into a 20:19 lead, taking the first game on the second game point. Although her points gained from smashes were, at 1 to 7, greatly inferior to her younger opponent who is known for her power and speed, Tai was ahead by 13 to 5 for points gained in front of the net, showing excellent touch and strategy. After taking a one- nil lead Tai total controlled the rhythm of the next game and took the match 2:20, 21:18 to go through to the semis.

 

She will play another local girl, young Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals. Akane Yamaguchi has won five arches in succession starting from the qualifying rounds, including taking the scalp of famous Indian player P.V. Sindhu at the last 16 stage.  

 

VICTOR stars Lee Sheng Mu／Tsai Chia Hsin played well at the Badminton World Championships, the Chinese Taipei Open and the China Master and have moved up to 10th in the latest BWF World Rankings as a result, however, they faced Indonesia’s Setiawan/Ahsan in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open, a pair who have strung together an impressive run of 17 successive wins this year. 

 

Lee Sheng Mu／Tsai Chia Hsin

 

Setiawan／Ahsan brushed the Chinese Taipei pair aside without much trouble to continue their winning streak. The white hot form of the pair has also sent them up to second in the world rankings.

 

( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )