BWF Arctic Open 2024: Chou Tien-Chen sets up men's singles final clash against Jonatan Christie
Chou came out on top in his semi-final clash against Watanabe Koki while Christie reached the final after Kunlavut Vitidsarn conceded a walkover on Saturday (12 October)
Badminton
Veteran badminton star Chou Tien-Chen booked his place in the final of the BWF Arctic Open 2024 to set up a clash against Jonatan Christie.
The Chinese Taipei player brushed off a fightback effort by Japan’s Watanabe Koki to prevail 21-12, 14-21, 21-10 in their semi-final match in Vantaa, Finland on Saturday (12 October).
The seventh-seeded Chou looked set to claim a comfortable straight-set win before Watanabe turned the tables in the second to settle the scores. But Chou bounced back with aplomb in the third to seal the victory.
Chou will now face off against reigning All England Open champion Christie, who has been in rampant form in Finland as he marched into the semi-final courtesy of a 21-5, 21-12 rout of Lee Cheuk Yiu in their quarter-final clash. But he would not be tested in the semis after Olympic silver medallist and reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn conceded a walkover ahead of their clash.
Vitidsarn set up a mouth-watering contest against the Indonesian star after beating second seed Naraoka Kodai in straight sets.
Christie will nevertheless have his work cut out as he goes in search of his third badminton title of the 2024 season.
In the women’s singles final, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon will go up against the People’s Republic of China’s Han Yue.
Former world champion Intanon was in stellar form as she steamrolled past Japan’s Miyazaki Tomoka with a 21-11, 21-14 victory on Saturday. Han overcame Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-9, 16-21, 21-9 for a place in the final.
The finals will be available to watch live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices (territorial restrictions may apply).