World champion An is ousted from competition, paving way for Shi to advance to the final round
In the ongoing Badminton World Championships 2023 in Paris, a dramatic turn of events unfolded in the semi-finals. The South Korean player, An Se-young's reign as world number one came to an end as she lost to Chen Yufei, securing the Chinese player's place in the final.
Chen, who was the runner-up in 2022, will now compete for her first world title. On the other hand, Shi Yuqi, the runner-up in 2018, overcame a tough challenge to reach the men's final.
The South Korean player expressed regret about their performance in the semi-finals, admitting they struggled to control the rallies and the match. They felt their clears, smashes, and timing were all poor, and they played unintelligently, making too many mistakes.
In the men's semi-final match, Shi Yuqi saved two match points to earn a hard-fought victory over unseeded 20-year-old Lai. The scoreline read 13-21 22-20 21-16 in Shi's favour.
The men's final will be a battle between Shi Yuqi and Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Shi will bid for his first world title in the final, while Kunlavut will be aiming to defend his 2021 title.
Meanwhile, the South Korean player will have to console themselves with the fact that their preparation for the World Championship was good, despite the heartbreaking semi-final loss. They can take solace in the fact that Canada won its first bronze medal in the sport, a small consolation for the disappointment of not making it to the final.
On the other side of the net, Shi Yuqi will be aiming to make up for his loss in the 2018 final. He earned a bronze medal for China in the competition, but his sights are now set on the world title.
In the women's final, Akane Yamaguchi will be bidding for a third world title. Her opponent is yet to be named, but she will be partnering with the South Korean player who lost in the semi-finals. Both players will be aiming to make history and etch their names in the annals of badminton.
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