New Delhi: The reigning World Champion – Loh Kean Yew of Singapore was granted a walkover into the 2022 India Open final after his opponent in the semi-final, Brian Yang of Canada withdrew as he was feeling “sore throat and bit of a headache”.
“Brian Yang complained of sore throat and a bit of a headache in the morning. He said he is not feeling well and hence he has withdrawn,” said the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
“Yang though has tested negative for Covid-19. Loh Kean Yew therefore is through to the finals,” explained BAI.
Loh will take on World No. 17 Lakshya Sen of India in the final.
Sen, on the other hand, made his first BWF Super 500 final when he had to battle hard to pass World No. 60 Ng Tze Yong of Malaysia.
The No. 3 seed from India lost the first set to Ng 19-21 but managed to bounce back in the next two games 21-16, 21-12 to enter the final.
“I am excited to play my first Super 500 final in my home country. I made some unforced errors in the first, but I stayed calm in the second and third and I am happy to be able to win the match,” said Sen.
Meanwhile, in an all-Malaysian mixed doubles semi-finals, the No. 3 seeds Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei pulled off an upset to beat No. 1 seeds Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing 21-19, 21-23, 21-14 in 71 minutes. Chen/Peck will face Singapore’s husband and wife pair – Terry Hee Yong Kai/Tan Wei Han in the final. Hee/Tan were granted a walkover in the semi-finals as their opponents – Russia’s mixed doubles player Rodion Alimov was tested positive of Covid-19, and his partner Alina Davletova has to withdraw from the tournament as well since she was considered as the close contact.
The men’s doubles semi-final saw No. 1 seeds Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia overcame No. 3 seeds Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia 21-15, 21-18 to meet No. 2 seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India in the final.
In the women’s singles final, No. 2 seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan will set up an all Thailand final with compatriot and No. 6 seed Supanida Katethong.
The women’s doubles No. 3 seeds Anastasiia Akchurina/Olga Morozova will fight No. 4 seeds Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand for the India Open crown.
