Mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran missed out on a chance to win their fifth title of the year after bowing out in the semi-finals of the US$475,000 (approx 15.2 million baht) BWF Arctic Open in Finland on Saturday.
Dechapol and Supissara went down to world No.2 pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping of China in three games, 21-15, 16-21, 12-21, on Saturday.
Feng and Huang will face compatriots Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin in the title decider after the world No.1 pair battled from a game down to edge past Thai duo Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, Dechapol’s former playing partner, in three games, 16-21, 21-12, 21-12 in 53 minutes.
Ratchanok Intanon and Busanan Ongbamrungphan were due to face off in the women’s singles semi-final while men’s singles top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn was also due in action against Rasmus Gemke of Denmark later last night.
Women’s top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan booked her berth in the final after she cruised past the 62nd-ranked Anmol Kharb of India 21-10, 21-13 in just 29 minutes.
Yamaguchi, who won her third world title in Paris, is chasing her second World Tour crown of the year after winning the Korea Open last month.