BANGKOK, April 2: Top seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark spoiled Boonsak Ponsana’s dreams of a title defense on home turf Saturday with a straight-set semifinal victory in the Thailand Open badminton championship.

The world number four is now undefeated in four career matches against Thailand’s Olympic semifinalist, posting a clinical 15-10, 15-6 win to advance to the title match.

Boonsak, the world number 17, was fresh off his first-ever victory over his Malaysian nemesis Mohammed Roslin Hashim, but the 23-year-old was unable to carry the momentum from the quarters despite a heavily partisan home crowd at the National Gymnasium.

In the title match, Jonassen faces third seeded Malaysian Mohammed Hafiz Hashim, who overcame a poor first set to oust Singaporean Ronald Susilo 13-15, 17-15, 15-9.

On the women’s side, world number 10 Xu Huaiwan of Germany assured an all-European final when she scraped out a nail-biting three-set victory over French top seed Pi Hongyan.

Results

Men’s singles (semifinals): Kenneth Jonassen bt Boonsak Ponsana 15-10 15-6; Mohamed Hafiz Hashim bt Ronald Susilo 13-15 17-15 15-9.

Women’s singles (semifinals): Yao Jie bt Kanako Yonekura (11-7 11-4; Xu Huaiwen bt Pi Hongyan (11-3 8-11 13-12.—AFP