-Olympics
Loh Kean Yew is through to the semi-finals at the BWF French Open 2023.
The star shuttler from Singapore beat Shi Yu Qi (People’s Republic of China) 21-17, 21-19 on Ftoday evening (27 October) to set up a meeting with the winnern of Japan’s Naraoka Kodai and Jonatan Cristie (Indonesia).
Meanwhile, badminton world number two Anthony Ginting is out of the tournament after suffering a straight-games loss to Li Shifeng in the quarter-finals on Friday (27 October).
Li, crowned the Asian Games champion barely three weeks ago, continued his fine form by dispatching his Indonesian opponent 21–15 21–13 in 50 minutes.
The People’s Republic of China shuttler, who also won the All England Open earlier this year, was never really troubled by an out-of-sorts Ginting, with a spell of seven straight points in the second game the decisive factor in the match.
It means Li, who beat Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the round of 16, now faces Lee’s compatriot Ng Tze Yong in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Ng secured his spot in the last four without taking to court after reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand withdrew from the competition, granting the Malaysian a walkover victory.
In women’s singles, Rio 2016 Olympic champion Carolina Marin lost 21-18. 21-18 to unseeded Ohoro Aya (Japan) who will now face Tai Tzu-ying (Chinese Taipei).