China Masters: Milestone on the Line for Naraoka, Nishimoto
A first HSBC BWF World Tour title beckons Kodai Naraoka as the world No.5 made the final of the LI-NING China Masters 2023. Facing him will be compatriot Kenta Nishimoto, for whom the title assumes special…
· DEV SUKUMAR
A first HSBC BWF World Tour title beckons Kodai Naraoka as the world No.5 made the final of the LI-NING China Masters 2023. Facing him will be compatriot Kenta Nishimoto, for whom the title assumes special significance as it will guarantee him a place in the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023.
Quite interestingly, the two have never met previously in international competition.
In semifinals action on Saturday, Naraoka held off another compatriot, Kanta Tsuneyama, in a tricky 69-minute affair, while Nishimoto had it far easier against local hope Zhao Jun Peng, easing through 21-17 21-8 in just 39 minutes.