Baek/Lee, Matsuyama/Shida Play Spoilers
China started semifinals day at HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 with a shot at having two women’s pairs in the title match.
· PREM KUMAR
The dream scenario however did not materialise; convincing displays from Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee and Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida denying the hosts a happy ending in women’s doubles.
Baek/Lee set the tone early in their clash; the Koreans all over Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning in the 21-14 opening game win. Top seeds Liu/Tan’s spirited surge in the second created some tense rallies for their opponents, especially towards the end, but the world No.2s held firm to avenge their defeats in the Olympic quarterfinals and Japan Open final.
Matsuyama/Shida followed suit in the first match of the evening session, overcoming off-colour Paris 2024 gold medallists Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan 23-21 21-13 to snap a nine-match losing streak to the Chinese duo.