An Se Young stayed on track for a record-equalling 11^th title in a calendar year after she secured her place in the women’s singles semifinals of the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023 today.

After a surprise opening loss to Kim Ga Eun, it has been business as usual for An Se Young as she dispatched Tai Tzu Ying 21-17 21-15 for her second successive straight-games win to leap to top of Group A. The one-sided win gave Kim an opportunity to join her compatriot in the semifinals, but needing a win against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, Kim managed only to take a game.

Tunjung’s 21-14 20-22 21-17 win enabled Tai to make the semifinals as she finished second in the group behind An Se Young.

“I feel lucky to play here and win this match,” said Tunjung. “Of course it was disappointing to lose the first two matches, but it was an important lesson for me and I learned a lot from this experience.

“I have had a good season as I improved physically and I have enhanced my mental condition.”

The semifinalists in men’s doubles also fell into place. In Group A, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik fell to their third straight defeat, against Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang, who finished second behind compatriots Liu Yu Chen/Ou Xuan Yi. Liu/Ou had a comfortable outing against Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi, notching their third win on the trot in the group.

Group B saw world champions Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae shoot up to the top of Group B with a 22-20 17-21 21-12 result over Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardinato. That effectively killed the chances of their conquerors Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who will finish third even if they do win their final match against Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana.

Other Highlights

Young Chinese women’s doubles pair Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning, who are making their debut at the year-ending tournament, made the semifinals after beating Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 21-13 21-8.

Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee clinched the top spot in women’s doubles Group B after a marathon 21-18 9-21 21-16 result over Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida that lasted 100 minutes.

Results