Kumamoto Masters: Strong Start for Veterans
Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto’s new partnership got off to a great start at their first tournament together as the Japanese veterans made the semifinals of the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024.
· BWF STAFF
Having been in successful partnerships with Sayaka Hirota and Wakana Nagahara respectively, Fukushima and Matsumoto’s pairing this week saw them beat Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan in the first round, compatriots Kaho Osawa/Mai Tanabe in the second, and Korea’s Lee Yeon Woo/Lee Yu Lim in the quarterfinals today. Facing them in the semifinals will be China Open champions Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min.
Second seed and home hope Kodai Naraoka was shown the door in the quarterfinals by world No.31 Leong Jun Hao.
Joining Leong in the semifinals will be compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn/Tan Wee Kiong in men’s doubles and Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai Jemie in the mixed.