JAKARTA: Chen Long and Carolina Marin enjoyed contrasting semi-final victories on a good day for the top seeds and defending title holders at the world badminton championships on Saturday.

China’s Chen has seized the mantle of the sport’s most dominant player from compatriot Lin Dan since claiming a maiden world crown in Copenhagen a year ago and the 26-year-old appears in no mood to relinquish his title in Jakarta.

The lanky world number one was simply too quick and strong for Japanese fourth seed Kento Momota as he raced through to the final in less than an hour with a dominant 21-9, 21-15 triumph.

Facing Chen in Sunday’s final will be Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who set up a repeat of last year’s title match with a impressive 21-7, 21-19 victory over Danish second seed Jan O. Jorgensen.

Meanwhile Marin, who almost didn’t make the world championships due to injury, staged a gripping comeback against South Korea’s Sung Ji-Hyun to book a second-straight finals appearance.

The Spaniard screamed in triumph as she emerged victorious after a 90-minute battle over Sung 21-17, 15-21, 21-16.

Marin will face Saina Nehwal in Sunday’s final after the second seed survived a valiant effort from local hope Lindaweni Fanetri to secure a 21-17, 21-17 victory as she seeks to become the first Indian to claim a world title.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2015

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