Axelsen powers into Indonesia final

Axelsen powers into Indonesia final

World No 1 will take on Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who defeated Lee Zii Jia in the semifinals.

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen celebrates after defeating India’s Lakshya Sen. (AP pic)
BALI:
Badminton world No 1 Viktor Axelsen inched closer to a second trophy at the three back-to-back events in Indonesia on Saturday after securing a ticket to the final of the BWF World Tour Finals.

The Olympic gold medallist, who won the Indonesia Open last week, dominated both games before easily sealing a victory against India’s Lakshya Sen in a 21-13, 21-11 match that lasted in 39 minutes.

The Dane will face Thailand’s unseeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who knocked out Malaysia’s rising star Lee Zii Jia in a two-game match 21-18, 21-18 in the semifinals on Saturday.

In the women’s singles, South Korea’s An Se-young also secured a ticket to the final after winning a 25-23, 21-17 match against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.

The ticket paved the way for An to potentially win her third trophy in the back-to-back tournaments after earlier she, respectively, clinched the titles of Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open.

The 22-year-old An will play against Pusarla Venkata Sindhu from India in the final on Sunday. She said she had no special preparation for tomorrow’s match.

“I have to be ready for the final tomorrow because An is a player who is difficult to beat,” she said after the match.

Sindhu secured the final ticket after winning a rubber game match beating world No 3 Akane Yamaguchi from Japan 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 on Saturday.

The World Tour Finals, returning to Asia for the first time in 10 months, is the season-ending of three consecutive tournaments played in strict bio-secure conditions and without spectators due to Covid-19 in Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali.

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