Badminton World championships | Battle lines drawn for singles crown

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Se-young celebrates her victory over Wang in the semifinal. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The men’s singles final will crown a new badminton World champion. The women’s title clash will pit the defending champion against a three-time victor.

In men’s singles, 21-year-old Alex Lanier will face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka for a world title neither has won before, with both guaranteed their first World championships medal. Lanier beat Canada’s Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14.

The Frenchman has repeatedly had to recover from difficult positions during his run. Against Victor, as in his quarterfinal against Kunlavut Vitidsarn, he found a way to steady himself and change the momentum.“

At some point you need to trust how good you are,” Lanier said after the semifinal. Naraoka took a different route. The Japanese lost the opening game 17-21 to veteran Chou Tien Chen before taking control, winning the next two 21-11, 21-10. Chou, 36, had been chasing a second record after becoming the oldest men’s singles medallist in World championships history, but Naraoka’s patience and rallying eventually ended that bid.

The women’s final brings together An Se-young and Akane Yamaguchi, with Se-young holding a 19-15 advantage. Yamaguchi moved through with a composed 21-12, 21-17 victory over Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, becoming the only women’s singles player to win six World championships medals.

Se-young survived a gruelling opening game against Wang Zhi Yi, edging it 24-22 before closing out the second 21-16. She appeared to struggle with her left leg late in the second set, but stayed in the contest and sealed victory with a net dribble at 20-16.

The Japanese star now stands between Se-young and a second straight title. “I’m looking forward to how I perform,” said Se-young.

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