China's Chen Qing/Jia Yifan, Japan's Matsutomo/Takahashi, reach Dubai badminto finals
Xinhua, December 17, 2016 Adjust font size:
China's shuttlers Chen Qing and Jia Yifan and Olympic gold medal winners Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi from Japan won here on Saturday the women's doubles semi-finals of the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) Dubai World Superseries 2016.
In the tournament' s first semi-final taking place Saturday, Danish duo Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl, who were the last year's runners up, lost 12-21, 11-21 against an almost perfectly harmonizing duo Matsutomo/Takahashi. "It was a tough match," said Juhl. Pedersen paid tribute to their opponents, saying "Misaki and Ayaka played really well, not only today, but throughout the tournament so far" .
China's Chen/Jia, winners of the 2016 Yonex French Open, defeated the South Koreans Chang/Lee 23-21 after fifty-eight minutes play.
"Although we won in two straight sets, this semi-final was more difficult than it looked as we both played well and tried hard to achieve victory." said Chen after the match.
Twenty-seven years old Chang of South Korea said she suffered from some pain in her right thigh which weighed on her performance.
The women' s doubles final will take place on Sunday, December 18. Endit