In a thrilling day at the
Notably, there will be no third-place playoff in this tournament, meaning both semi-final losers will be awarded bronze medals, adding to the stakes of the upcoming matches.
Yamaguchi's Dominance and Upcoming Challenge
Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion who claimed her latest title in Paris last year, demonstrated her prowess by defeating Canada's Michelle Li in a swift 28-minute match, finishing with a score of 21-17, 21-10. Her next challenge will be against Pornpawee Chochuwong, who received a walkover into the semi-finals after Japan's Nozomi Okuhara withdrew due to a knee injury.
Men's Singles Highlights
In the men's singles category, Canadian seventh seed Victor Lai faced a tough battle against Denmark's Rasmus Gemke but ultimately prevailed with a narrow 21-19, 21-18 victory after 54 minutes of play. Meanwhile, world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn experienced an upset, falling to France's Alex Lanier in a closely contested match that ended 21-19, 16-21, 16-21. Lanier's performance was marked by powerful smashes and strategic returns, allowing him to recover after losing the first game and securing his place in the semi-finals.
Additionally, Japan's Kodai Naraoka, seeded tenth, pulled off a stunning upset against world number four Anders Antonsen of Denmark, winning 21-19, 21-15 to advance to the final four. Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen also made headlines by defeating Indonesia's Alwi Farhan 21-15, 21-15, earning his second medal at the championships after winning bronze in 2022. Chou, now 36, will face Naraoka in the semi-finals, while Lai and Lanier will compete in the other match for a spot in the finals.
