Arisa Igarashi-Kie Nakanishi
Japan are through to the semi-finals of the Uber Cup in Horsens, Denmark for the ninth consecutive time. The east Asian side staved off a strong challenge from Thailand to emerge 3-1 victors and set-up a last four clash against top seeds China.
China had strolled past Malaysia 3-0 in their semi-final tie.
It was not an easy match-up for Japan against Thailand, as they had to work hard for each point.
The opening singles match brought Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi up against former world champion Ratchanok Intanon.
While the duo have played each other 25 times prior to today’s clash, it was only their first in almost three years.
Yamaguchi, the world number three, extended her winning record against Ratchanok to 15-11 with 47-minute 22-20, 21-15 win.
Her win over the seventh ranked Ratchanok gave the Japanese the start they needed.
The first doubles was the easiest point earned by the Japanese. Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto had overcame first game resistance to getting past the scratch pair of Benyapa Aimsaard-Supissara Paewsampran 22-20, 21-8 in 47-minutes.
Pornpawee Chochuwong put the Thais back in contention when she defeated Tomoka Miyzaki 15-21, 21-16, 21-19 after a grueling 84-minutes.
The world number eighth had defeated the ninth ranked Tomoko in both the previous meetings but barely managed to win this time around.
The second double match between Arisa Igarashi-Kie Nakanishi and Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat saw the Japanese world number seven dropping the first game.
But it was not be a Thai comeback. Igarashi-Nakanishi regrouped and played with more purpose to take the match 19-21, 21-8, 21-14 and lead Japan to the semi-finals once again.
Japan has won the Uber Cup six- times and will be looking to upstage China in the semi-finals for their first since defeating Thailand for the coveted Cup in 2018.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
UBER CUP
Japan beat Thailand 3-1 (Akane Yamaguchi bt Ratchanok Intanon 22-20, 21-15; Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto bt Benyapa Aimsaard-Supissara Paewsampran 22-20, 21-8; Tomoka Miyzaki lost Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-15, 16-21, 19-21; Arisa Igarashi-Kie Nakanishi bt Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat 19-21, 21-8, 21-14
