Taipei Open: Yoo, Okimoto Spoil Party
The dream of an all-Chinese Taipei YONEX Taipei Open 2026 men's singles final was dashed on Saturday as Yoo Tae Bin and Yudai Okimoto stunned local favourites Lin Chun Yi and Chou Tien Chen.
· PREM KUMAR
As a result, for the first time since 2018, the men's singles final will not feature a home player, after Yoo and Okimoto held their nerve in contrasting but equally dramatic semifinal victories.
The day’s first upset came courtesy of 22-year-old Yoo, who defeated All England champion Lin 21-19 21-19 – the Korean showing his win at the Asia Team Championships in May was no fluke.
Just when Lin appeared poised to force a deciding game, leading 18-15 in the second, Yoo launched a decisive late surge to close out the match in straight games. The victory sends him into his first HSBC BWF World Tour final, having never progressed beyond the second round at six previous events. In doing so, he becomes the first men's singles qualifier to reach a World Tour final this season.