Taiwan shuttlers reach finals at Yonex Thailand Open

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎) and Taiwan’s top men’s doubles team are set to compete for their respective titles at the Yonex Thailand Open in Bangkok after winning their semifinal matches Saturday.

The 26-year-old Tai battled past 23-year-old Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark (No. 18) 21-8, 23-21 for her place in the women’s singles finals.

Tai sped through the first game and seemed on her way to an easy victory after taking a 6-2 lead in the second game.

But Blichfeldt went on a 9-1 run to take an 11-7 lead and nursed it until she had four game points at 20-16. Tai, however, pulled even at 20-20 and saved another game point at 21-20 before clinching the match.

She will face 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist Carolina Marin of Spain, a good test to see where Tai stands after the long break taken by the world badminton tour because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the men’s…