‘Bas’ Dechapol Puavaranukroh and ‘Popor’ Sapsiree Taerattanachai have gone nine events without crossing the quarterfinals. Today at the YONEX SUNRISE India Open 2024, it was almost their 10th such result on the trot, but the Thais kept up the resistance to save four match points against Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino and make their first semifinal since the Japan Open in July last year.

Their doggedness was evident on the fourth match point, with Taerattanachai defending from the floor; and after they’d converted their second opportunity for a 21-17 15-21 27-25 result in 86 minutes, their joy was clear to see. It was their first defeat of Watanabe/Higashino after three straight losses.

“It’s about who makes mistakes first,” said Taerattanachai.

“We lost to them the last three times, so we played with nothing to lose, and we kept up the attack. This is the longest third game we’ve played.”

An Retires

There were two high-profile casualties. World champion An Se Young retired early in the second game against Yeo Jia Min citing a right knee injury; An’s compatriots Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung crashed out in straight games to Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin.

“Although I was carrying the injury when I came to India, I wanted to keep playing,” said An. “I did have some concerns it could get worse. It is the injury I had at the Asian Games; I also have a hamstring problem. I was fine at the (HBSC BWF) World Tour Finals and strong in Malaysia last week, but to keep running for two consecutive weeks is hard.”

Highlights

Kim Won Ho/Jeong Na Eun turned around near-certain defeat to prevail against Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping. The Koreans had saved four match points in the second game and trailed 4-12 and 13-18 in the third before staging the unlikely comeback to win 15-21 24-22 21-19.

After early exits in his last three events, Lee Cheuk Yiu broke into the semifinals with a 21-17 18-21 21-13 result over Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

→ Results (Day 4)

→ Order of Play (Day 5)

WHAT OTHERS SAID:

“Both of us were trying to push as much as we can. We tried hard to find the rhythm. I tried to not make mistakes but I made a few. He was patient in the last game and he wasn’t attacking as much as usual.” – Ginting

“The win was important for my confidence. I feel more comfortable now and I trust myself. I lost to (Viktor) Axelsen last week but I still feel confident. Working with Wong Choong Hann has been good; I trust him and it’s been getting better and better.” – Lee