Chen, Marin move within one game of world championship title defense

Chen Long moved within one game of retaining his world championship title after the Chinese top seed swept past Kento Momota of Japan 21-9, 21-15 to reach the men's singles final here on Saturday

Women's top seed Carolina Marin also earned the chance to defend her world title.

Chen will play either Jan O. Jorgensen of Denmark or Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, a veteran and three-time runner up at badminton's premier event.

"It will be a tough match," Chen said of the final.

Marin staged an impressive comeback against South Korea's Sung Ji-Hyun to book a second-straight final appearance. The defending champion won a 90-minute battle by 21-17, 15-21, 21-16.

"I am happy for the results. It was a tough match. I was nervous in the match. Perhaps today is not my bad day. I would focus on strategies to win the final match tomorrow," Marin told reporters after the match.

Marin will face second seed Saina Nehwal, who knocked out local favorite Lindaweni Fanetri 21-17, 21-17.

For a second year in a row it will be an all Chinese affair in the finals of the mixed doubles.

Top-ranked pair Zhang Nang and Zhao Yunlei defeated Indonesian duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir, while fourth seeded Chinese pair Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin beat their second seeded compatriots Xu Chen and Ma Jin.

The finals of the men's and women's doubles will also be determined in semifinal clashes later Saturday. Endi