Ahmedabad: It will be a Chinese faceoff in the men’s and women’s final of the Asian Cup 2017 being held at The Arena by Transstadia in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Top seed and World No 2 Fan Zhendong will face compatriot Lin Gaoyuan in the men singles final. In the women’s final, World No 3 Zhu Yuling will face World No 4 and defending champion Liu Shiwen.
On their way to the women final, Liu struggled against World No 5 Kasumi Ishikawa of Japan before winning 15-13, 11-3, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6. However, Zhu had an easy outing as she beat another Japanese opponent, World No 6 Miu Hirano in straight games to win 13-11, 11-8, 11-2, 12-10.
The men’s semi-final was a one-sided affair as Gaoyuan beat Chen Chien-An of Chinese Taipei in straight games 11-5, 12-10, 15-13, 11-. Zhendog showed his class as he dismantled World No 14 Lee Sangsu of Korea 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 in the second semi-final.
Brief scores:
- Women: Zhu Yuling (China) beat Miu Hirano (Japan) 13-11, 11-8, 11-2, 12-10; Liu Shiwen (China) beat Kasumi Ishikawa (Japan) 15-13, 11-3, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6.
- Men: Lin Gaoyuan (China) beat Chen Chien-An (Taipei) 11-5, 12-10, 15-13, 11-7; Fan Zhendong (China) bt Lee Sangsu (Korea) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.