The biggest disappointment was men’s singles world No 8 shuttler Lee Zii Jia, who was upstaged by Thailand’s world No 23 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight games 21-18, 21-18.

The three-time world junior champion Kunlavut, who suffered a 21-15, 21-16 defeat to the All England champion in a Group B match on Wednesday, avenged his loss en route to his first final in the season finale.

Zii Jia said Kunlavut played a better game than him.

“Essentially he was more patient today compared to the previous match, and was more prepared. Kunlavut knows my gameplay and I could see he was more in control.

“Though I lost in the semifinals, I can say it’s a good result compared to the 2020 World Tour Finals in January where I was eliminated in the group stage. This time I made the semis,” he told the Badminton World Federation.

Zii Jia said he will take a rest and prepare for the season ending World Championship scheduled from Dec 12-19 in Huelva, Spain.

Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles semifinals, world No 12 pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi could not match the mighty Japanese Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, losing in straight games 21-18, 21-15 in 39 minutes.

Earlier, 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying’s campaign in the mixed doubles category also ended.

The duo went down to Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-8, 21-18 after a 42-minute match.

Despite the semifinal exits, the representatives in the three events pocketed prize money of US$30,000 (about RM127,000) for making it into the last four stage.